Advance to Semis For the 3rd Straight Year

By Josh Ouellette

(Glendora)- A late Azusa rally was not enough to topple San Dimas as the Saints took a 30-23 decision Friday night at Citrus College in the second round of the CIF Playoffs.

After an Azusa three and out SD quarterback Shawn Kennedy led his offense on a four play drive on its first possession and Dominic Jollevet scored on a four-yard touchdown burst up the middle at the 9:12 mark of the opening quarter.

Another Aztec three and out gave the Saints possession around midfield. Following a holding call, Kennedy hit Dillon Corona over the middle for a 39-yard pass. On the third play in the redzone Jake Payton scampered to paydirt from five yards out. Payton also completed the two-point conversion with a run to the boundary to give the Saints the 15-point lead.

The SD defense looked like it had a third straight three and out when Desmond Reed showed them that he had other plans. On a third and 10 Jacob Martinez hit Reed on a screen pass for 64-yards. Reed beat all of the San Dimas defenders to the goal line and cut the lead to only eight points, 15-7.

Azusa scored again on its next possession thanks to Cameron Blackburn seizing the opportunity to carry the ball and taking it 20-yards for the touchdown. The Aztecs now trailed 15-14.

With the Montview champions suddenly back in the contest, SD, starting from its own 25, began the grinding he ball down field. The Azusa defense appeared to have them stymied at the 47 yard before Kennedy hit Corona again, this time for 17 yards and the first down. On the ensuing play Jollevet blew up the middle of the Aztec defense for the

36-yard touchdown run. Making the score at the half 22-14 in favor of the Saints.

Azusa struck first in the second half, again thanks to a Martinez to Reed screen pass for a touchdown, this time for 58 yards. After failing to convert for two points the Aztecs still trailed 22-20.

Both teams fought for field position until Azusa was stalled in field goal range. Israel Ramirez gave life to the whole Azusa half of the stadium booting the ball past the uprights for the 40-yard field goal, giving the Aztecs their first lead on the night. With 6:19 remaining in the fourth quarter Azusa held the lead 23-22.

San Dimas played the role of heartbreaker yet again for the Azusa fans, this time thanks to Devante Brown who following the field goal returned the kickoff 69-yards to the Aztec 26 yardline. Five plays later Payton had his Saints marching again when he carried the ball untouched for the five-yard touchdown. A Kennedy to Payton pass for the two-point conversion gave San Dimas the late lead 30-23.

Azusa would have two chances to score but the Saints defense held Martinez and his passing attack at bay.

San Dimas (10-2) advances to the Semi-Finals to take on San Gabriel (8-4). Both teams met earlier this season with the result being a Saints rout by the score of 59-6.