MidValleySports.Com

Coach Mike Maggiore and the Bulldogs seeking second straight CIF title

By Matt Schuler

(West Covina)- Jimmy Frazier rushed for over 100 yards and three touchdowns, Chris Soloman added two more scores on the ground, and the West Covina Bulldogs defeated Diamond Ranch 42-14 on Thybers Field to notch back-to-back Hacienda league champions Thursday night.

“Winning league was one of our goals,” said West Covina head coach Mike Maggiore. “We wanted to compete for a league championship and we were able to do that. We played with heart and a lot of emotion, it seems like were getting better at the right time.”

Trailing 21-7 with 2:52 remaining in the first half, Diamond Ranch was on the move and looking to cut the deficit to one score, but a Panther fumble led to Fraziers’ third score of the night as he punched in a 10-yard TD run to make it 28-7 going into intermission.

Frazier also scored on a 56-yard burst, displaying speed and smooth cutting ability on his way to the end zone.

“He’s a great player,” said Maggiore about Frazier. “He didn’t get a lot of opportunities last year with Solomon in, but he worked hard, he’s gotten faster, he’s gotten stronger, hes got great vision. He’s a great running back.”

Solomon scored the last two touchdowns, each runs of five yards, for the Bulldogs.

Diamond Ranch was trailng 21-0 until Chris Miller took a pass 39 yards to the house, making it 21-7 with 10:40 to play in the second quarter.

West Covina’s defense played fast and physical, not allowing the Panthers to do much offensively.

“They beat us,” he said DR coach Roddy Layton. “They took it to us and beat us.”

“We had a little bit of injury problems, but what that did was created depth,” said  Maggiore. “Now were healthy as we’ve ever been and it seems like were hitting our stride at the right time.”

West Covina (9-1, 6-0) will have a home game to open up CIF playoffs, pairings will be determined this weekend.