Shawn Kennedy threw for 124 yards and rushed for 29 more to lead the Saints
(Baldwin Park) – San Dimas started it with offense and finished it with defense in a 35-16 win over Baldwin Park Friday night. With the win the Saints secured the Valle Vista League title.
“Defense wins championships and offense sells tickets,” said San Dimas Coach Bill Zernickow. “Tonight we had a little of both.”
Baldwin Park cut a 21-0 deficit down to 21-16 late in the third quarter but was ultimately sabotaged by turnovers. Down by five early in the fourth, Tre Evans intercepted Brave quarterback Manny Salcedo and returned it to the BP nine yard line. One play later, Ryan Kohler went in from six yards out to give San Dimas a 28-16 lead.
On the Baldwin Park’s next possession, Christian Morgan blindsided Salcedo on a sack and the ball popped loose. Justin Winrow scooped it up and raced 35 yards for the score to seal the win. The Braves had six turnovers in all.
“We showed a lot of fight tonight but we made way too many mistakes,” said Baldwin Park Coach James Heggins. “Against a team like San Dimas you can’t do that. But we’ll go into CIF and hope everything works out.”
The Braves will get their shot in the playoffs. Despite the loss they finished second in league at 4-1 and 8-2 overall. San Dimas was a perfect 5-0 in the Valle Vista and 9-1 on the season. The Saints have won their last six games.
Early on it was all San Dimas. The Saints took the opening drive and marched 77 yards on 12 plays as Kohler capped it with a nine yard run. A 53 yard pass from Shawn Kennedy to Winrow set up a seven yard TD run by Kohler early in the second to make it 14-0.
After Baldwin Park fumbled a punt in their own territory, Kennedy took advantage of the error and hit Kevin Kolbeck for a 37 yard touchdown pass for a commanding 21-0 Saint lead.
A bad snap by San Dimas caused a safety to give BP it first two points late in the first half.
In the third quarter, the Braves pieced together a 68 yard, 10 play drive. Salcedo hit Mario Rodriguez down to the one yard line to set up a scoring plunge by Wardell Crutchfield.
Later in the third, Jesse Moran broke off a 39 yard down to the San Dimas 27. Six plays later, Salcedo did it himself as he snuck in from the one yard line with 2:07 left in the quarter and suddenly it was a ball game.
That led to the two San Dimas touchdowns set up by the Saint defense and the SD went on to the victory.
The Saints led by Kohler and Evans had over 150 yards on the ground. Kennedy threw for 124 yards on six completions. More importantly San Dimas did not commit a turnover.
Sunday San Dimas and Baldwin Park will find out who is next when the Mid-Valley Division playoff brackets are announced.
SD 7 14 0 14 35
BP 0 2 14 0 16
Summary:
1st Qtr:
SD 7:32 Kohler 9 yd run (Dillon Corona Kick)
2nd Qtr:
SD 8:57 Kohler 7 yd run (Corona Kick)
SD 4:05 Kolbeck 37 yd pass from Kennedy (Corona Kick)
BP 1:43 Safety
3rd Qtr:
BP 7:37 Crutchfield 1 yd run (Jaime Toscano Kick)
BP 2:07 Salcedo 1 yd run (Toscano Kick)
4th Qtr:
SD 9:48 Kohler 6 yd run (Corona Kick)
SD Winrow 35 yd ret of fumble (Corona Kick)
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