(Chino Hills) – Although it wasn’t pretty, Charter Oak won back-to-back Southeast Division Championships by defeating Diamond Ranch, 21-0 Friday night at Ayala High School.
For the fifth time this season, the Chargers shut out a Miramonte League team.
“I don’t expect it,” said Chargers Coach Lou Farrar. “They didn’t give this group of kids credit for being this good. Nobody has ever done back-to-back titles at Charter Oak.”
The Chargers relied heavily on a defense that sacked Panther quarterback Gus Viramontes six times and only allowed 32 yards of offense in the second half to continue their dominance over Miramonte League teams. The Panthers gained only 123 yards of total offense for the game.
Charter Oak running back Adam Muema rushed for 173 yards on 30 carries and scored twice to lead the offense.
“He (Muema) is a monster,” said Farrar. “How would you like having 10 guys chasing and trying to tackle you? Everyone in the stadium knew he was going to get the ball.”
After a shaky beginning, it was a 55-yard field goal attempt that fell short by Diamond Ranch that turned the momentum onto the Chargers side as A.J. Powell returned the attempt 35-yards to the Charter Oak 40-yard line.
A heavy dose of Muema was all Charter Oak needed on the drive as he punched it in from a yard out to open the scoring. Two key pass interference penalties helped extend the 15-play scoring driving for the Chargers.
Diamond Ranch never threatened after the field goal attempt and was stymied through-out the remainder of the game. The Panthers got as close as the 33-yard line late in the first half, only to have a holding call and a sack by Maurice Clement push them out of field goal range.
In the second half the Chargers incorporated the wildcat offense with Powell at quarterback as he ran successfully in between the tackles and got back-to-back first downs on a drive that ate up 6:43. Charter Oak failed to score on the 15-play drive to start the third quarter.
With the Chargers up 7-0, Muema put the game out of reach on a hard fought one-yard run that punctuated a nine-play, 63 yard drive.
Defensively cornerback/running back Brandon Golden had two fourth quarter interceptions that stopped the Panthers at the Charter Oak 25 and 3-yard lines.
Golden, (five carries for 61 yards), also put the exclamation point on the victory with a 41-yard touchdown run with 3:17 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“We wanted it this year,” said Diamond Ranch head coach Roddy Layton. “If we win one now, folks will say that Charter Oak wasn’t in the division.”
CHARTER OAK 0 7 0 14 21
DIAMOND RANCH 0 0 0 0 0
CO – Adam Muema 1 run (Robert Poage kick)
CO – Muema 1 run (Poage kick)
CO – Brandon Golden 41 run (Poage kick)
additional photos can be viewed at cypresstreephotos.printroom.com
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