MidValleySports.Com

West Covina HC Mike Maggiore guides the Bulldogs into the second round

By Alex Gonzalez
(West Covina) – West Covina running back Antonio “Noodles” Hull rushed for 139-yards on 14 carries and scored three touchdowns in the Bulldogs 41-9 win over Paramount in the first rounf of the CIF SS playoffs Friday night.

After forcing the Pirates to punt on their first drive, West Covina methodically took 14 plays to score on its first possession. Hull ended the drive when he scampered his way to the end zone from 13-yards out.

“He’s just a playmaker,” said Bulldog head coach Mike Maggiore. “With the ball in his hands, it’s a good thing. He’s going to get better and better and he’s only a sophomore.”

On the ensuing possession the Pirates answered back with a touchdown of their own. quarterback Lamont Odom connected Marvin Lard for a 39-yard touchdown pass, 12 seconds before the first quarter ended. But the the Bulldogs blocked the point after attempt.

However, the Paramount defense couldn’t stop the Bulldog rushing attack. Both Aaron Salgado and Hull rushed for a combined 84-yards on the ground to lead their second score of the first half. Hull ended the six-play drive when he added another rushing touchdown from five yards out.

The Pirates answered back with a field goal, but West Covina scored right before intermission. After the Aaron Franklin touchdown, the Bulldogs were up 20-9 at the break.
Those nine points that the Pirates scored would be their last of the 2012 season. West Covina shut out Paramount in second stanza and outscored them by 21-points.

“I Thought we played well the whole game,” said Maggiore. “We flew around were getting better. I’m just glad that we got one more week of football.”
For the Pirates in the second half, they struggled to move the ball through the air. A component that led to nine-points in the first half. Odom completed only one pass for two yards.

“They made some good adjustments,” said Paramount head coach Matt Howard. They played really hard. They had a good defensive game plan and their defensive line got off blocks.”

With win, the Bulldogs are 9-0 in postseason play over the last three years. Next week they will meet Muir in the second round of the CIF SS playoffs.