MidValleySports.Com

Laron Mayfield's interception was the fifth turnover caused by West Covina. (Photo by Anne Cypress)

(West Covina) – The Bulldogs defense stopped Santa Fe four times inside the 20-yard line and caused five turnovers en route to a 47-7 Southeast Division quarterfinal win.

The victory for West Covina sets up a rematch of the 2006 CIF playoff, when the Bulldogs upset Mayfair in the first round. It also marks the third time since 2004 that West Covina is in the semi-finals.

Chris Solomon’s two fumble recovery for touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns led the way for the Bulldogs. Solomon finished the night with 126 yards on the ground and quarterback George Johnson added 71 yards and two touchdowns.

West Covina put the game away midway through the third quarter when Solomon returned a 50-yard fumble to the end zone to give the Bulldogs a 24-point lead with 7:40 remaining.

Johnson scored his second touchdown of the night on West Covina’s next possession to blow the game completely open on a 35-yard toss-option run with 4:06 left in the third quarter.

Though the score appears to be a complete blow-out for the Bulldogs, The Chiefs managed to help West Covina defense by shooting itself in the foot early and often in the game.

Santa Fe’s new found passing connection of Christian Mahlstede and Steven Hernandez clicked early and drove the Chiefs down to the West Covina 12-yard line. On a third and eight, Jimmy Frazier jumped the passing route and intercepted Mahlstede at the five-yard line.

Four plays later, Santa Fe’s Romeo Prado blocked Aaron Salgado’s punt and recovered it at the Bulldogs 19-yard line. Mahlstede coughed up the ball on the next play with Solomon scooping it up at the 15-yard line and running it all the way for a touchdown to break a scoreless tie with 5:28 remaining in the first quarter.

The usually explosive offense for West Covina had difficulties having any sort of flow with the Chiefs aggressive defensive.

The Bulldogs weren’t able to sustain a drive longer than four plays until midway through the second quarter. West Covina went on a seven-play drive that spanned 79-yards and ate up two-minutes and thirty-nine seconds. The play was capped on Solomon’s first rushing touchdown to extend the lead to 14 points.

Santa Fe’s score came early in the second quarter trailing 14-0 when Alex Mirola punched it in from one-yard out.

Solomon would add the icing on the win early in the fourth quarter with a 25-yard scamper.

Solomon scores his second touchdown. (Photo by Anne Cypress)