BJ Lee intent on winning a CIF Championship. (Photo Anne Cypress)
WEST COVINA VS MAYFAIR (BELLFLOWER)
Early on the Bulldogs were on its heels trying to stop the run. Many times the Monsoons defense was able to control the line of scrimmage.
What made it more difficult for West Covina to get any penetration and pressure on Evan Hunko is the play-calling early in the game with play-action. Hunko also had a speedster that was lost in the shuffle for Mayfair all year in Theo Chambers.
Give credit to the Monsoon defense as well, which pursued Chris Solomon and B.J. Lee and limited them to their lowest rushing totals of the season.
I think many will be wondering why Mayfair didn’t continue to throw in the second half. The Monsoons chance to change the momentum of the game midway through the fourth quarter inside the Bulldog five was lost with three successive running plays.
Give credit to West Covina though in the “red zone” for the whole season. They managed to stop Bonita and Santa Fe when they ventured inside the 20, only to be thwarted or have turnovers caused.
George Johnson is the “best” game-manager left in the playoffs. Johnson not only calms his team down, but his steadiness on the final drive is what makes him the perfect fit for Mike Maggiore’s team.
Not to be out done on the final drive was Maggiore’s call with Solomon passing to Johnson for a crucial first down on the game-icing drive.
Mayfair didn’t want to kick the ball to Lee all-night the Bulldogs finally switched Solomon with Lee so he could get an attempt and made the most of his opportunity giving West Covina good field position on one drive.
Most know about Maurice Dupleasis and Justin Meaders but Deion Steppes has come up big the last two weeks.
Wasn’t on the Monsoon sideline, but West Covina was loud all night and travelled well.
Bearcat teamwork is what has gotten them this far. (Photo Anne Cypress)
LA SERNA AT BONITA
Strangest first half seen in a long time is a good way to explain the developments that occurred.
Main reason, Bonita’s blocked field-goal attempt and Giomani Johnson touchdown return after La Serna had ate up nearly seven minutes of clock. The Lancers went right back up the field and the drive stalled again. This time La Serna went for it and was unsuccessful.
After that the Bearcats only had the ball for twenty-seconds.
I will say my biggest concern for Bonita was its run defense after watching what West Covina did to the Bearcats. Though it bent against the Lancers rushing attack it never broke.
Offensively, being off the field as long as Bonita was the team never got into a flow. La Serna’s defense did good job of stopping the run and slowing down the passing attack of the Bearcats.
The Lancers defense also put some incredible pressure on Garrett Pendleton all night. Although the one time they lost contain against Pendleton was a 21-yard gain that set up Bonita’s second score.
The biggest problem for the Lancers all night was untimely penalties and mistakes which they hadn’t really done all season. As much as La Serna fans will be upset about the call on Cameron Salce midway through the third quarter, it needed to be called. It also changed the momentum of the game.
One call that Lancer fans could be upset about is the non-pass interference call in the fourth quarter on fourth down. It was clearly a hold, but the ref that was nearest the play missed it.
Okay I will say it hear, Tarez Lemmons is a beast on the line.
Under the radar no more for K.C. Huth with his two huge block field goals. Biggest question is how will West Covina contain him? Huth plays larger than he actually is and will cause havoc on defense for the Bearcats.
One person on the sideline that was watching Pendleton was former Bishop Amat and FSU quarterback Chris Rix. At one time during the opening drive that saw three offsides penalties called on Bonita, a coach was screaming at the defense. I asked Rix if Coach Bowden would ever have done that he said, “Never, Spurrier would though. That’s why I didn’t go to Florida.”
Pendleton and Rix (Photo Anne Cypress)
Crowd for both was incredible, talk about what High School football is all about. Got to the parking lot an hour and fifteen minutes prior to kickoff and couldn’t get close to the gate. Add the fact, La Serna requested added seating for its incredible fan support. The added seating wasn’t enough as they crowded the fence around the field.
Not to be out done is the Bearcat fans which completely filled out its stands and was two or three people deep on the sides.
Talk about home-field advantage, it was evident late in the game with how loud Bonita fans were.
Thinking the final between West Covina and the Bearcats needs to be played at Citrus College. Just my opinion.
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