By Alex Gonzalez
San Dimas — With 3:06 left in the fourth quarter, San Dimas running back Jesse Samec scored the games clinching touchdown to put his team up 20-6, giving the Saints a victory over West Covina in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 9 playoffs Friday night at San Dimas high school.
“I just wanted one more week with this team,” said Samec after the game. “They brought me in after I transferred, they gave me a warm welcome, and I’ve been able to perform for them, and I hope to continue to do so.”
Heading into the contest, the plan for both schools was to establish the ground game since both schools average over 150 yards a game on the ground.
Both the Bulldogs and San Dimas combined for 14 total passes in the first half. That, of course, explains why both schools exchanged field goals, thanks to Mathias Uribe of San Dimas and Saeed Arellano of West Covina, putting the score at 6-6 after 24 minutes of play.
“You know, in a playoff game, you have to test what works and what doesn’t. “ Said Samec when talking about halftime adjustments. “We saw what worked, and we came back, and it worked again. So we just kept going and pounding and came out with a win.”
That changed at the start of the fourth quarter.
At the start of the final frame, Teyondre Coleman capped a 17-play drive that elapsed over seven minutes by sneaking his way into the end zone, breaking a 6-6 tie.
The Bulldogs tried to answer back on their ensuing possession but failed to, reverting to punt the ball back to the Saints after four plays.
From there, Samec and Co. worked their way down the field, setting up the game’s go-ahead score for Samec, who reached pay dirt from 18 yards out.
With the win, San Dimas will await the winner of the St. Margarets versus Hueneme contest. If St. Margarets win, the Saints will play at home next Friday night.
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