Blake Heyworth threw for 212-yards and two scores but it wasn’t enough as Wildcats drop season opener.
(Chino Hills) Blake Heyworth’s touchdown pass to Mason Bryant in the fourth quarter draws M-Tow to within 16-15, but excessive celebration penalty turns the point after into a 34-yard attempt. Mason Bryant’s kick sails wide right and that would be as close and the Wildcats could get in the 2012 season opener at Ayala High School.
Bryant put the first points of the 2012 season for the Wildcats when a 13 play drive stalled at the Bulldog three. Bryant booted the 20-yard field goal with 2:26 left in the opening period.
On their ensuing drive, Ayala came back to score on a 12 play 80-yard drive capped by a Dane Cruikshank 12-yard run. Brandon Garcia added the extra point and the Bulldogs pulled out to a 7-3 lead.
Midway through the second quarter the Monrovia defense pinned Ayala deep in their own territory. The Garcia punt flew out close to the Bulldog 35 were it was touched by a Wildcat. A scramble for the ball ensued and Ayala came away with the rock. One play later Brian Meyette hit Spencer Wallace on a 66-yard catch and run. Garcia again added the extra point to extend the Ayala lead to 14-3.
With 4:12 left in the first half, Monrovia was faced with a fourth an long deep in their own territory. The snap was good and the ball was handled well but the Bulldogs came after the punt and were successful. The Punt was blocked and bounded out of the back of the endzone for a safety. The 16-3 lead turned out to be insurmountable for Monrovia.
The Wildcats marched down the field on the ensuing drive looking to gain some kind of momentum heading in to the locker room and half time. Back to back receptions by Bryant took the ball down to the Ayala 19. When the drive stalled there, Bryant came on to attempt a 36-yard field goal. Unfortunately for Bryant and Monrovia, the ball just sailed a little right giving the ball back to the Bulldogs to run out the first half clock.
The Wildcat defense did their job in the second half holding Ayala scoreless giving the offense a shorter field to play on
Early in the final frame Monrovia cut the lead to seven on a a screen pass from Blake Heyworth to GeVontray Ainsworth to cap a six play 49-yard drive.
Two minutes later it appeared that the Wildcats would tie the ball game when Heyworth found Bryant deep over the middle for the touchdown. After the score, Monrovia was flagged for excessive celebration and the Ayala brain trusts elected to take the penalty on the extra point. The 15-yard penalty pushed an essential chip shot extra point into a 34-yard attempt. Bryant’s attempt sailed wide right and the Bulldogs held on to a precarious one point lead.
After a defensive stop, the Wildcats went on a march that brought them down to the Ayala 19-yard line. On third and one at the 19, Monrovia tried to catch the Bulldog defense off guard looking for a run. Ayala wasn’t fooled and Heyworth was chased from the pocket and eventually sacked back at the Bulldog 34 putting them out of range for a field goal. On fourth and long, Heyworth’s pass fell incomplete putting Ayala back in the drivers seat.
The Wildcats defense held again and Monrovia got the ball back for one last drive with a few more than 30 ticks left on the clock. Heyworth hit Crayvon Gilespie for a 24-yard gain and then ran for 14-yards of his own to get into Bulldog territory.
Monrovia had one last chance with the ball on the Ayala 47 with :04.8 seconds left. Feeling heavy pressure, Heyworth’s pass fell incomplete sealing the Bulldog victory.
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