By Tim Peterson
(Baldwin Park) -West Covina racked up 296 yards on the ground and marched right over Baldwin Park in a 30-8 win Friday night on the Braves home field.
The Bulldogs threw only one pass on the night and it went for a touchdown …of course.
West Covina set the tone early as Jayden Ortiz picked off Baldwin Park’s Drew Knight on his first pass attempt of the game. The Bulldogs then drove down to the Baldwin Park five-yard line before settling for a 22-yard field goal by Donovan Romero.
On West Covina’s next possession the Bulldogs needed just five play to get in the endzone. Robert Rodriguez scored on a seven-yard run with 47 seconds left in the first quarter for a 10-0 lead.
The Braves had an opportunity in the red zone but Knight was intercepted by Ortiz again.
In the second quarter West Covina took advantage of a muffed punt by Baldwin Park. The Braves fumbled the punt and the Bulldogs recovered it at the BP 13. Two plays later freshman quarterback Chris Perez threw that one pass and tight end Daniel Carrillo hauled it on for an 11-yard touchdown.
West Co took the 16-0 into the half while the Braves first half consisted of three turnovers and two punts.
The Bulldogs kept the pressure on at the outset of the third quarter. On the first series in the third quarter Rodriguez busted off a 37-yard run deep into Baldwin Park territory and Zander Requena finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown jaunt to make it 23-0.
The Braves answered with a three-yard touchdown run by Corey Lacy to cap a 10-play drive. Lacy also scored on a two-point conversion.
Baldwin Park had a golden opportunity to get within a touchdown early in the fourth quarter as West Covina also mishandled a punt. But after driving down to the West Covina 14 yard line the Bulldogs made a stop on fourth down.
West Covina then iced it when Zach Requena busted off a 54-yard run down to the BP four yard line. Thomas White bulled his way into the endzone with just 49 seconds left for the final score.
Zach Requena led the ground attack for the Bulldogs with 153 yards on 19 carries. His brother Zander Requena had 47 yards and a touchdown on 7 carries. Rodriguez added 51 on only 3 carries including the 37-yard run.
For Baldwin Park Knight threw for 113 yards and ran for 36. Josh Gonzalez ran for 55 yards on 10 attempts. But the Bulldogs defense was stout all night in holding off a team that erupted for 40 points last week.
“Our offensive line did a good job. We’d like to be more versatile and throw the ball more but we’re having success running it,” said West Covina head coach Mike Maggiore. “I thought our defense played well tonight as well.”
West Covina improved to 3-4 with the win and will start San Antonio League play next week. Baldwin Park dropped to 5-2.
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