Bearcats Claw Back, 35-28

By Johnathan Saller

(La Verne) – A powerful Bonita running attack scored 28 fourth quarter points to overtake visiting Los Altos giving, the Bearcats a come from behind homecoming win at Glenn Davis Stadium Friday Night.

“We’ve come to believe we’re a better running team than a passing team so we’re [going to] go with our strengths,” Bonita head coach Eric Podley said. “It proved to be a wise decision.”

A 16 play, 88-yard drive that lasted over seven minutes in which the Bearcats converted two fourth downs brought Bonita back from the brink. Running back Reggie Turner scored from one-yard out making the score 14-21 with 9:35 remaining.

The Conquerors answered right back on a 56-yard scoring strike from Shane Virnala to receiver Andy Sotelo.

The Bearcats came back eating up chunks of yardage to finally score on a one-yard Cameron Griffin plunge.

Bonita then decided to onside kick with 4:32 remaining. They recovered and were in business at the Los Altos 49. Griffin got the call on three of four plays scoring on a ridiculous 15-yard scamper up the middle that featured jukes rivaling Barry Sanders. Suddenly it was 28-28.

The Conquerors got the ball back and started strong with a 14-yard run but the drive sputtered and it was time to punt. The snap went over the punters head and the Bearcats were awarded with excellent field position at the Los Altos 17. Two plays later Turner scored from ten yards out with 1:42 remaining.

Defensive Back Brendan Smith iced the game when he intercepted Virnala with under a minute remaining.

The first half was all Conquerors as they ran 39 plays to Bonita’s 16 and held the ball for 18 minutes. At half time Los Altos held a 21-7 lead and looked to be in complete control. Virnala also threw four touchdowns, though he had a costly pick to end the contest.

The Bearcats rushing attack scored five touchdowns on 40 plays. Griffin finished with 126-yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns and Turner added two scores and 98-yards.

“They did a great job tonight,” Podley said. “They told me last week after the West Covina game that if I put the ball in their hands good things would happen. They made me a believer tonight.”

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