By Rich Whittington
(El Monte) – The Arroyo Knights suffered their first loss of the 2021 football season Friday evening, as the visiting Claremont Wolfpack posted a 12-0 victory in the first round of the CIF Division 9 playoffs, in front of a sizable, and very vocal, crown at B.L. Bergstrom Stadium.
Claremont’s first score came on the opening drive of the contest. The Wolfpack controlled the ball for the first seven minutes of the contest, when Nathan Giles scored on a 10-yard quarterback keeper. The PAT attempt was unsuccessful, making the score 6-0, Claremont, with 4:59 remaining in the opening quarter.
Claremont added to their lead in the second period, when Giles connected with Kyle Ferm for a 19-yard Touchdown. The PAT attempt was blocked, making the score 12-0, with 3:38 remaining in the first half. This would prove to be the last of the evening’s scoring, making the final score 12-0, Claremont.
Arroyo was never able to find their rhythm. Dropped passes, turnovers, and untimely penalties kept the Knights playing “catch-up” for the majority of the evening.
The Knights’ best scoring opportunity came in the waning moments of the contest. After assembling a 48-yard drive, Arroyo stalled on the Claremont six-yard line, turning the ball over on downs with just over a minute remaining in the game.
Claremont improved their record to 6-5, and will host the Laguna Beach Breakers in the second round. Game time is to be announced. Arroyo finishes the season with a record of 10-1, 5-0 in Mission Valley League play, and a Mission Valley League Championship.
Just my opinion, but you obviously don’t know much when it comes to high school sports-particularly in the MVL. No sense wasting time trying to argue the point. By the way, Claremont beat the number 1 seed Laguna Beach 38-7 on Friday.
Cut the BS. Proud my behind. If you go 10-0 and lose in the first round of the playoffs that’s an embarrassment. Claremont was placed in the same division as Arroyo. It’s not like Arroyo was up against Glendora. This is typical Arroyo. Big fish in a small pond.
No excuses from anyone from Arroyo. Claremont was a very solid, well-coached team. Game was as physical up front from both teams as I have seen in a few years. Very few missed tackles, just a tough, physical match up. Arroyo had trouble running the ball against Claremont’s front 7, and it seemed as though every time the Knights started to put a drive together, they would make a mistake (INT, fumble, etc). I think the Arroyo fans and supporters should be proud of what their team accomplished this season. No football for an entire year, playing a bunch of totally unproven Seniors-most of whom had never taken a Varsity snap, a talented but very inexperienced Junior class that also had very little Varsity experience. For them to put together a 10-0 regular season was pretty special. Getting beat in the playoffs under any circumstance is tough, but to state that their season was a disappointment because of one loss is just nonsense!
Back to Division 12 it is lmao
Not surprised. Told ya. 10-0 then 0-1 when it counts. Man the Arroyo peeps are real quite. I wonder what their excuse will be this time?