West Covina & Jesse Ili were on top of SG from the get-go Friday.
(West Covina)- West Covina scored early, late, and in between Friday night in a 40-14 rout of San Gabriel in first round CIF playoff action.
“Our guys came out pretty focused,” said Bulldog head coach Mike Maggiore. “We had a pretty good week at practice.”
It showed with a 56-yard scoring drive on their first possession. Ricky Johnson capped it with a 3-yard run.
The second possession covered 64-yards, including a 20-yard run by Jesse Ili and a 26-yard run by Chris Solomon, before Johnson went in from a yard out to make it 13-0.
A third possession was extended when WC recovered a touched punt at the SG 20. Three plays later Solomon went in on a 13-yard run.
“We didn’t have to pass at all,” said Maggiore. “Our runners did a great job and so did our line.”
Maggiore was quick to praise the left side of his line; guard Richard Tejeda and tackle Michael Cortez.
These Bulldogs pushed the sled for Solomon (205-yards, 2 Tds), Johnson (2 Tds), and Ili (116-yards rushing & receiving) as WC built a 27-7 halftime lead.
With 3:38 to play in the half the Matadors Isaac Valdez connected with Fabian Amaro for a 51-yard touchdown to make it 20-7.
SG forced West Covina to punt and took over at the Bulldog 43. Valdez completed four consecutive passes, two to Alex Lopez, and one each to Andres Fernandez, and Mark Covarrubias, to bring the Matadors to the 13-yard line.
On first down Valdez was flushed from the pocket. Scrambling to his left he went to the corner of the end zone where WC’s Anthony Molina picked him off.
“We knew Valdez was a great quarterback,” said Maggiore. “Our goal going in was to pressure him into making quick decisions. Our defense did a good job in getting after him.”
If the half ended with the pick that would have been bad, but a short toss from George Johnson to Ili added 51-yards. It was followed by a 22-yard pitch to Molina. With seconds dwindling to the break, Solomon carried the ball three straight times before going across from the one to complete the 14-point swing.
In the second half quarterback George Johnson and Maurice Dupleasis scored on short runs for the Bulldogs, and Matthew Tafoya did the same for SG to close out the scoring.
In the close out game of his San Gabriel career Valdez completed 21 of 34 for 253-yards a touchdown and two picks.
West Covina will host Charter Oak next week.
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