Covina Bubba Ben Rodriguez
(Pomona) – With Billy Livingston out of the lineup with an injury, Covina Coach Darryl Thomas knew he would have to rely on the running attack. Vinny Venegas and Gevontray Ainsworth responded by rushing for 209 yards combined in the Colts 16-14 win over Pomona Friday night in the Valle Vista League opener.
Venegas did most the of the damage running for 137 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. His score came early in the third quarter on a five yard run to cap an 80 yard drive to put the Colts up 14-0.
“That third quarter drive was huge, ” Thomas said.
The Colts were threatening to go up 21-0 later in the quarter, but Pomona had a goal line stand stopping the Colts on four straight downs inside the five yard line.
After taking over at the three, a bad snap over the head of Brandon Schreiman resulted in a Covina safety and a 16-0 lead with 11:06 left in the contest.
Pomona looked dead and buried but instead made one last push. Schrieman started connecting with Terell Mosby and the Red Devils came to life. A pass interference penalty on Covina set up a 15 yard touchdown pass from Schreiman to Mosby to cut the lead to 14-8 after Mosby also caught a two point conversion pass.
After the Colts fumbled on thier next possession Pomona was in business again. First Mosby hauled in a 45 yard pass from Schreiman down to the Colt 13. Three plays later Schreiman found Mosby again for a seven yard score. However the Colt defense stiffened when Schreiman’s pass was batted down on the two point conversion.
Pomona recovered the onside kick following the touchdown but a Red Devil player touched the ball before it traveled the necessary ten yards and Covina retained possession.
Covina then ran out the clock thanks to a couple of first downs and a personal foul penalty on Pomona.
The Colts led 7-0 at the half and it came on a trick play. Darren Torres, lining up for a field goal, instead took the snap, rolled out and hit Nick Simons for a 16 yard touchdown pass with 5:12 left in the second quarter. The fake field goal caught the Devils by surprise.
Covina only threw the ball four times. Daniel Sifuentes was one for two, Venegas 0-1 and then Torres’ TD strike. But the running game made up for Livingston’s absence.
“We just wanted to keep the ball on the ground and chew up some clock. We’re happy to get out of here with a victory,” Thomas said.
For Pomona Mosby had four receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns, all in the second half. Sir-Darius Yabrough had 10 carries for 40 yards.
Pomona dropped to 2-3 and 0-1 in the Valle Vista while Covina improved to 4-1 and 1-0.
C 0 7 7 2 16
P 0 0 0 14 14
2nd Qtr:
C 5:12 Simon 16 yd pass from Torres (Torres Kick)
3rd Qtr:
C 4:56 Venegas 5 yd run (Torres Kick)
4th Qtr:
C 11:06 – Pomona bad snap out of end zone – Safety
P 8:37 Mosby 15 yd pass from Schreiman (Mosby pass from Schreiman – 2 pt)
P 2:44 Mosby 7 yd pass from Schreiman (2 pat pass incomplete)
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