Jonathan Olguin (#44) fights his way across the goaline for the go ahead score.
By Tim Peterson
(Covina) – Jonathan Olguin blasted into the end zone from three yards out to give Montebello a 17-10 win over Covina in overtime Thursday night at Covina District Field to advance to the semi finals of the Division 11 playoffs.
The Oilers had to rally from a 10-0 halftime deficit for the victory. They got a 30-yard field from Kevin Bravo in the third quarter to cut it to 10-3. In the fourth quarter Gabriel Tapia scrambled out of danger and fired a 36-yard strike to Brandon Gonzalez in the right corner of the end zone to tie it. Gonzalez had to fight off the cornerback and pull it in before coming down with the ball.
Montebello’s “Dark Side” defense held Covina to 10 points.
After Olguin gave Montebello its first lead of the night, the Oiler defense held the Colts on four downs. Covina’s Nin Burns, a freshman filling in for the injured Anthony Meneses, threw a last gasp pass to the back of the zone but it was batted away on fourth down. It was the second consecutive game that the Colts played in overtime.
Covina drew first blood on the first drive of the game when Tristan Sprague booted a 26-yard field goal to cap a drive that started at the Colt 27-yard line. The Colts made it 10-0 in the second quarter when Burns found Jordan Fisher for a four-yard TD pass.
Montebello was held scoreless in the first half thanks in part to two costly turnovers. Tapia was picked off by Richard Randazzo in the second quarter but the Oilers were in position to cut the Covina lead to 10-7 late in the second but a botched snap led to a fumble and Covina recovered at its own 12 yard line.
In the third quarter Montebello started moving the ball mostly behind Tapia runs. Montebello’s defense also forced two Colt turnovers in the second half as Isaiah Jenkins and Mario Hernandez both intercepted Burns.
Burns however played well, especially considering he’s a freshman on a big stage. He completed 20-42 for 266 yards and a touchdown but he was hurt by the two interceptions. Fisher caught 13 passes for 169 yards and a score.
Tapia ran for 64 yards and threw for 167 and a touchdown. Andrew Moreno added 46 yards on the ground for the Oilers.
Andy Brown caught three passes for 34 yards. Gonzalez touchdown grab was his only reception of the night.
Covina, which beat Victor Valley last week in OT, finished 7-5 overall. Montebello, now 11-1 overall will face either Rancho Alamitos or Valley View next week.
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