MidValleySports.Com

Fischer took the opening kick off 96 yards.

(Pomona) –Diamond Ranch used Andrew Fischer and Nick Gibson for some “smash-mouth” football in its win over Bonita in the Hacienda League opener for both teams, 21-13.

“Our offense wanted to pound the ball tonight,” Panthers Head Coach Roddy Layton said. “I told the running backs to go straight at them and wear them down by playing small ball.”

A steady dose of Fischer and Gibson helped Diamond Ranch wear down the Bearcats and the defense came up big in the second allowing just three points against the juggernaut that is the Bonita offense. They finished with a combined 147 yards rushing.

All the damage for the Panthers came in the first half all courtesy of Fischer’s penchant of finding the end zone as he scored all three Diamond Ranch touchdowns and finished with 208 total yards.

It didn’t take long for Fischer to get the Panthers on the board as he returned the opening kick-off 96-yards for a touchdown.

After falling behind early, Bonita fought back with ten-unanswered points to take the lead midway through the first quarter.

Cameron Griffin scored from two-yards out to cap a five-play drive that began at the Diamond Ranch 45-yard line. The big play on the drive came from Garret Horine’s 28-yard reception from Tanner Diebold.

The battle for the trenchs.

The lead became short lived as the Panthers methodically moved down the field on eight plays for 72 yards that ate up 3:20. Fischer did most of the heavy running and receiving as he ran for 8, 3, and 8 and scored on a 25 yard screen pass from Isaiah Locke-Ramirez. Chris Miller helped the drive along giving Fischer a breather with runs of 17 and 7 yards before the score.

The only scoring for either team in the second half came right after the halftime break as the Bearcats drove all the way to the Diamond Ranch 12-yard line before having to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Brandt Davis. Davis finished the night going two for two on field goal attempts with a long of 33.

After the score, the defense for each team took over as the offense couldn’t sustain any drives.

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Panthers line took over and allowed the offense to take over as it ate up valuable time with an 8:35 drive that was halted at the Bonita 41-yard line.

With one final chance to tie the game, the Bearcats tried to go vertical with the passing game only to come up with two short pass completions totally five yards and two incomplete passes to thwart any chance of comeback by giving the ball back to the Panthers.

Diebold finished the night 11 of 25 for 156 yards with no touchdowns.