Tre Evans of San Dimas picks up some tough yards in Mid-Valley CIF Title game last December
San Dimas Rains on M-Town Parade
(Citrus College) – San Dimas rushed for over 200 yards on the ground and used a solid defense to beat Monrovia 12-7 Saturday night to win the Mid-Valley Division Championship. The game was played in a steady downpour from the opening kick off to the final gun.
Hard rain continuously pelted the two teams and didn’t let up until the final minute. Neither team went to the air with any regularity but it was San Dimas who had success running the ball. While Monrovia had less than 100 yards on the ground, San Dimas had four players with more than 60 yards including Ryan Kohler who had 110.
“It’s tough to throw the ball in pouring down rain. So they stacked the box and dominated us on the lines,” said Monrovia Coach Ryan Maddox. “I don’t want to say the rain was a factor because San Dimas played a great game. They beat us up front.”
San Dimas took the opening kick off and marched right down the field. Tre Evans took a hand off and broke off a 22 yard run on the first play from scrimmage to highlight the drive. Dillion Corona booted a 35 yard field goal to give the Saints a 3-0 lead.
Monrovia put together a drive on the ensuing possession but a Mason Bryant 37 yard field goal attempt fell short.
It was slip sliding away for both sides in the second quarter. They exchanged turnovers as the downpour continued and it became difficult to hold on to the ball. The Saints strung together some positive yardage late in the quarter and moved into Monrovia territory. No sooner did an onlooker on the Monrovia sideline say that the Wildcats would be fortunate to go into halftime down by only three, that Jordan Taylor got outside, escaped a couple of tacklers and raced into the end zone for a 26 yard touchdown and it was 10-0 Saints at the half.
Monrovia came up with a big stop on fourth and goal at the one in the third quarter when Josh Lowden busted through the gap and stuck Evans. Lowden was a stalwart on defense all night for the Cats.
Later Monrovia faced a fourth and inches at its own 11 yard line and Maddox decided to roll the dice after calling time out. Nick Bueno followed the block of his center and earned the first down but Monrovia still could not pick up any momentum.
Late in the game Monrovia went to the air with short swing passes and advanced into the San Dimas zone. Bueno, as he has all year, came up with a big play as he scored on an 11 yard run carrying a tackler with him into the end zone with 4:17 left on the clock.
An onside kick was covered by San Dimas but the Saints, after picking up two first downs, were forced to punt. Corona booted a line drive down the field that settled and died at the Monrovia four yard line. The Wildcats had 1:09 to get into scoring position.
Bueno ran for two and then on second down he threw a short wheel route pass that fell just off the finger tips of De’shawn Ramirez. Ramirez had nothing but green turf in front of him. On third down Bueno went back to pass and as he looked down field to his right, Justin Winrow nailed him on his blindside and smothered him in the endzone for a safety with 36 ticks left.
Winrow then covered the onside kick, took a pop for his efforts, and fell to the turf to secure the victory.
“I just wanted to step up tonight,” Winrow said. “It feels great to win.”
“All of my seniors stepped up tonight,” said San Dimas Coach Bill Zernickow. “We were able control the line up front,” he said of his team who lost to Monrovia 36-17 back on September 25.
Maddox although disappointed in the loss did deliver a message for his team following the contest. “They’re still champions. They’re the same people they were when they woke up this morning.”
SD 3 7 0 2 12
M 0 0 0 7 7
Summary:
1st Qtr:
SD 7:02 Corona 35 yd FG
2nd Qtr:
SD :26 Taylor 26 yd run (Corona Kick)
4th Qtr:
M 4:17 Bueno 11 yd run (Bryant Kick)
SD :36 Winrow sacks Bueno- Safety
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