MidValleySports.Com

Noah Maldonado had 166 yards on the ground for the Saints but it wasn’t enough

By Tim Peterson

(San Dimas) – San Dimas running back Dylan Ware was stopped at the goal line on a two point conversion attempt in overtime to lift Kaiser to a 35-34 win over the Saints Friday night in the first round of the CIF Division 8 Playoffs.

With the score tied at 28 after regulation, Kaiser got the ball first in OT and cashed in on a 16-yard touchdown run by Tyler Allgeier. San Dimas then countered, on a fourth and three, when Dylan Ware scored on an 18-yard run to cut the lead to 35-34. San Dimas head coach Mark Holman decided to roll the dice and go for two.

“We had to, we were outmanned,” Holman said. “We had some injuries. It was the right call.”

And it appeared that it indeed was the correct call as Ware took the handoff and plowed forward. He was met at the goal line by a host of Kaiser defenders and a scrum ensued. Although it looked like his forward progress carried him in, the officials emerged from a huddle and ruled Ware was halted at the one-inch line and the Kaiser sideline erupted in celebration. The San Dimas sideline exploded as well but it wasn’t what one would call celebration.

The Saints faithful had a few encouraging words for the officials as they departed the field as the players trudged dejectedly off in a heartbreaking defeat.

The two teams traded punches throughout the contest so it was only fitting that one team would finally be felled by a devastating knock out blow.

Ware gave the Saints a 7-0 lead on a 10-yard touchdown run on their opening drive but the Cats answered with a 36-yard run by Allgeier. Noah Maldonado put the Saints up seven with a seven-yard TD run later in the first quarter.

Kaiser’s Tyler Allgeier ran for 349 yards and three TDs in the victory

Allgeier scored again on a 53-yard jaunt early in the second to tie it. After stopping San Dimas on a fourth down, Kaiser took a 21-14 advantage when Lucas Mandujano hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Manuel Ferrell with just 36 seconds left in the first half.

The lead exchanged hands again as the Saints outscored the Cats 14-0 in the third. Ware capped a 68-yard drive with a one-yard run and Maldonado took an eight-yard pass from Dylan O’Leary and scooted into the end zone for the 28-21 lead.

Kaiser tied it on a four-yard run by Christian Hunter with 7:12 left. San Dimas missed a 31-yard field goal that would have given the Saints the lead. The Cats also missed a field goal from 41 yards out as time ran out on regulation to force the overtime.

Allgeier was the bulk of the offense for Kaiser carrying the ball 40 times for 349 yards and three touchdowns.

San Dimas totaled 383 yards on the ground with Ware going for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. Maldonado also had 166 and a touchdown on 19 carries. He also had a touchdown reception.

Although San Dimas didn’t feel that its season should come to an end, and video may support that opinion, the Saints finished the year 7-4 overall. For Kaiser it was a huge win on the road as the Cats improved to 8-3 and advanced to the second round.