The Colts celebrate their first round playoff win over Arroyo (Photo by Jazmin Sahagun)
By Joe Torosian
(El Monte)— The Covina Colts took a 28-7 lead into the fourth quarter and held on for a 35-28 victory over Arroyo Friday night at B.L. Bergstrom Stadium in the first round of CIF’s Mid-Valley Division playoffs.
Colts quarterback, Andrew Apodaca, completed 16 of 23 passes for 237 yard and four touchdowns. His team needed every one of them as the Knights mounted a three touchdown fourth quarter comeback that saw them draw within in seven twice.
On the last play of the third quarter Covina running back, David Barragan, coughed up the ball to give Arroyo a first and ten at its own 35. On a critical third and eight quarterback Humberto Pantoja connected with Devin Knight for 33-yards. Two plays later Pantoja went 30-yards to Antonio Alcazar to make the score 28-14.
The Knights and HC Jim Singiser rolled the dice on the kickoff with an onside kick that was recovered at the Colts 25. Two plays later, on a third and 11, Pantoja hit Alcazar for a 19-yard gain. Then on second and goal Thien Luu bulldozed his way to paydirt to make it a 28-21 game.
Arroyo, back in the game with all the momentum, then saw Covina respond with two passes from its 41. Apodaca went 20-yards to Barragan and followed it with a 39-yard scoring pass to Eric Williams.
Williams finished the night with nine catches, 132 yards, and two touchdowns.
Down by two touchdowns, the Knights used another big play to close the gap. On a third and then from his own 34, Pantoja found Angel Reyes on a dig-route over the middle. The big receiver took it to and up the Arroyo sideline before cutting back through the Colts defense and going into the end zone.
It was now 35-28 in favor of Covina.
After the kickoff the Colts took over at their own 41 with 6:37 to play. HC Joe Brown pounded the ball with Barragan before his team was facing a fourth and one at the 50. With no intention of giving the ball back, Brown called timeout and then came back and gave the ball to Michael Roberts, who converted on a fullback dive play.
Covina was able to drive to the Arroyo 32 before fumbling it back to the Knights with 2:47 to play.
The dream comeback, and season, ended for the Knights when Pantoja went deep and was intercepted by Richard Randazzo.
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