Smudge Pot Remains with Bonita

Connor Spina scored all three touchdowns in Bonita’s win. (Photo by Duane Barker).

By Tim Peterson

(Glendora) -Connor Spina scored three times and the defense shut out San Dimas in the second half as Bonita beat San Dimas 21-13 Saturday night before a large crowd at Citrus College. With the victory Bonita retains the Smudge Pot for at least one more year.

Both teams were bit by the turnover bug. Bonita fumbled the ball four times including one in the first half that led directly to a San Dimas touchdown. The Saints turned it over three times, all interceptions, the last one by Joe Parra with under a minute left that sealed the game for the Bearcats.

Spina scored on a two-yard with 6:32 left in the fourth that put Bonita up by eight. San Dimas had a couple of opportunities after that but their possessions ended in turnovers, both on picks by Parra.

Bonita scored first on the opening possession marching 45 yards on five plays with Spina capping the drive with a four-yard for a 7-0 lead.

Brian Freeland, who led the San Dimas rushing attack, fights for a few tough yards. (Photo by Duane Barker).

San Dimas got even with 4:11 left in the second quarter on a nine -play, 75-yard drive with Brian Freeland finding paydirt on a two-yard run.

On Bonita’s next possession the Bearcats drove to the San Dimas 20 yard line. Quarterback Daniel Andrade dropped back and was wrapped up for an apparent sack but the ball popped loose and Kingston Curtis picked it up and rumbled 75 yards for a touchdown. After a penalty the ball was moved back 15 yards on the extra point and the kick was missed leaving the Saints up 13-7 at the half.

With just 47 seconds left in the third quarter Spina got loose for a 26-yard touchdown right through the heart of the Saints defense to put the Bearcats back on top 14-13.

Spina scored one more time in the fourth quarter and Bonita went on to secure the victory.

Spina rushed for 54 yards and the three touchdowns on nine carries. Noah Mikhail ran for 103 yards on 15 carries. Andrade threw the ball just four times for 39 yards – all to Ryder Cadam.

For San Dimas Freeland had 67 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. The Saints passing attack never got going and Bonita intercepted San Dimas quarterback Jacob Gonzalez three times.

With the victory Bonita now leads the Smudge Pot game 25-24-1 overall. The Bearcats have won four straight and five of the last six from San Dimas. Bonita and San Dimas are both now 2-2 this year.

4 Comments to "Smudge Pot Remains with Bonita"

  1. FBFan's Gravatar FBFan
    September 14, 2022 - 9:11 am | Permalink

    Went to this game the last time it was played and it has definitely lost a lot of its luster. The rivalry was at its height during the Podley/Zernickow era.

  2. Factor's Gravatar Factor
    September 12, 2022 - 12:57 pm | Permalink

    Both teams are terrible. Used to be a fun game. Now mistake ridden football, and no talent.

  3. D O's Gravatar D O
    September 11, 2022 - 7:16 pm | Permalink

    What did he say ? I didn’t see that in the story

  4. Bonita's Gravatar Bonita
    September 11, 2022 - 8:09 am | Permalink

    Bonita owns Coach Holman. When coach Holman would stop crying and making excuses than San Dimas would have a chance to win, until than Bonita will dominate the series.

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