It wasn't easy but West Covina Coach Mike Maggiore won his second CIF title in six years
I said one of the CIF championship games would go down to the wire and that’s exactly what happened. It just wasn’t the one I expected.
West Covina beat Bonita 55-21 in October and had beaten everybody else since an opening night loss to Covina. West Co had a bevy of running backs, a stout defense and a three year starting quarterback who was playing the best football of his high school career.
Bonita’s defense looked vulnerable to the run especially after the pummeling handed out by West Co. The Bearcats’ quarterback is solid but could its receivers get separation from a very quick and talented Bulldog secondary? On paper the Southeast Final looked like a rout.
In the Mid-Valley it was a coin flip. Whittier Christian has a great passing attack with Stephen Anderson but so does Monrovia with Nick Bueno. Bueno can run, but so can Anderson. Both teams have solid running backs and great receivers. On offense their points per game average was nearly identical.
Both teams have D-1 players on defense and both have talent in the secondary. Toss a quarter and pick a winner. So what happens? The Southeast game isn’t decided until the last minute when West Covina rallies to score the game winning touchdown, while the Mid-Valley Final is over mid way through the third quarter. West Covina 37 Bonita 33, Monrovia 38 Whittier Christian 8. Of course.
There were so many big plays in the Southeast Final but Dejon Steppes block of K.C. Huth’s punt in the third quarter was the biggest. The Bulldogs had committed three consecutive miscues including two straight fumbles on kick offs that allowed Bonita to take a nine point lead. Steppes defensive gem put the WC back to within seven and shifted the momentum back to the Bulldogs.
With the score tied at 14 to start the third quarter, West Covina fumbled the ball, and then Bonita pounded two consecutive kick offs that literally pin balled off the Bulldogs front line. But Eric Podley would have been a lot happier if his team could have managed more than nine points.
Garrett Pendleton was everything that Bonita asked him to be. He threw for over 300 yards and his touchdown pass to Matt Gelalich was a thing of beauty.
He threw an interception but that one belonged to West Covina’s Maurice Dupleasis. He made a big time play.
Speaking of Dupleasis we actually got a smile out of him after the game. Usually he has the look of a guy that is ready to crack open you skull.
Chris Solomon is now known as King Solomon at the Mid Valley. I like it. It will work for next year as well.
Pendleton’s counterpart George Johnson just makes plays.
Despite the six minute nightmare to open the third, I never saw West Covina Coach Mike Maggiore lose his cool. You would have thought he was up by two touchdowns.
I owe West Covina DC Jason Heilman an apology for asking him a couple more questions after his team called him over for a team picture. Sorry Coach I just needed some info. I owe you one. Just don’t sick Dupleasis on me.
Before the Mid-Valley championship Jeff Worthy shook my hand, smiled and said “Are you ready for a battle?” “Sure” I said.
Funny all I had to do was walk the sidelines and carry a clipboard while Worthy had to dig in the trenches and face off with Ellis McCarthy. And by the look on his face you could tell he loved it. Well we have that in common. We both love our jobs.
While Worthy is a monster on the field he is one of the most polite, well spoken athletes I’ve had the chance to interview off it. I’m looking forward to following his progress at Boise State.
Ryan Maddox is all business. Even after winning the CIF title he told me his goal is to one day win the State Bowl Championship I believe it will happen soon.
Does Jay Henderson play shortstop too?
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com.
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