Steven “Bubba” Munoz got the Huskies going early.
One more from the first round of the CIF playoffs last year. Tim Peterson was out at Covina District Field to cover South Hills’ battle with Roosevelt. The Huskies rallied late but came up short on Thursday night November 7, 2019.
By Tim Peterson
(Covina) – South Hills staged a rally late in the fourth quarter but fell a touchdown short in a 35-28 loss to Roosevelt Thursday night in the first round of the CIF Division 4 playoffs at Covina District Field.
The game appeared to be over when Shawn Martin scored on a one-yard run with 3:29 left in the fourth quarter to give Roosevelt a 35-21 lead. But just over a minute later John Ramirez hit Jordan Sanchez on a slant and Sanchez did the rest scampering 95 yards for the score to get the Huskies within seven.
South Hills’ onside kick failed and Roosevelt took over at its own 46. But a high snap over the head of quarterback Xavier Ward resulted a fumble and suddenly the Huskies were right back in business at the Roosevelt 31 with 2:15 left.
South Hills picked up a first down on a pass down to the 16 yard line to Sanchez but the Huskies were unable to move the ball from there and Ramirez was sacked on fourth down at the 17 with 1:17 left allowing Roosevelt to run out the clock and claim the victory.
South Hills was in pretty good shape in the first half taking a 14-7 lead into the break behind the running of Steven “Bubba” Munoz. Munoz carried the ball just three times on the opening possession to give South Hills a 7-0 lead. He rumbled 35 yards and 39 yards before pounding it into the endzone from the one for a 7-0 lead.
Roosevelt pieced together a nine-play, 65-yard drive to get even. Martin scored from the one.
In the second quarter South Hills took the lead on a four-yard touchdown pass from Ramirez to Sanchez to cap a 52-yard drive.
Dayjiohn Wheeler was a tough cover for Roosevelt
In the third quarter Roosevelt took control. The Mustangs scored on three big plays on three possessions in the third. First Jaz Fong busted off a 50-yard touchdown run to tie it at 14.
After a Huskies punt Ward found Dayjiohn Wheeler for a 60-yard scoring strike and Roosevelt was up 21-14. Three minutes later Fong got loose again for a 52-yard touchdown as he raced right though the Huskie secondary for a 14 point advantage.
South Hills, after having allowed 21 straight points, finally answered in the fourth quarter when Ramirez hit Thonye Charles in stride on a 36-yard TD toss to make it 28-21 with 8:56 left.
Martin’s score made it a two touchdown game before the Huskies rally came up short.
Fong and Wheeler were the bulk of the offense for Roosevelt. Fong had 11 carries for 206 yards and two touchdowns. Wheeler hauled in just three catches but totaled 138 yards and a score. Ward threw for 212 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 44 yards.
For South Hills Munoz toted the rock 24 times for 102 yards and a touchdown. Sanchez had 10 receptions for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Ramirez threw for 290 yards and three scores.
South Hills finished the season at 5-6 overall while Roosevelt moves on to the second round.
Great year Huskies.
They should be in D 7 not D 4.