By Tim Peterson
(Covina) – Charter Oak’s improbable playoff run continued Friday night as the Chargers beat their neighbor Covina 23-7 at Lou Farrar Stadium to advance to the CIF Division 8 Semi-Finals.
Charter Oak wasn’t even expected to be in the post season after a 2-8 regular season but after petitioning and being granted a spot in Division 8, the Chargers knocked off North (Torrance) last week and now will be home next week in the Semis after beating Covina.
They did it with a strong defensive effort that only allowed the Colts one score and an offense that did enough to get the job done.
The Chargers got on the board first on their first possession. Corin Berry hit an open Sean Munoz who got behind the Covina secondary for a 60-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
The Colts responded later in the quarter when Joseph Rangel capped a 12-play, 87-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run to tie it at 7-7 with six seconds left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter Mitchell Gibbens booted a pair of field goals from 34 and 28 yards out to give Charter Oak a six- point lead. The Chargers had a chance to add to the lead late when they recovered a Covina fumble at the Colt 37- yard line. But a Gibbens field goal attempt from 42 yards out hit the crossbar with 10 seconds left in the half. CO was up 13-7 heading into the break.
Late in the third quarter Charter Oak’s Joel Sanchez was close to crossing the goal line from six yards out but the ball came loose and rolled into the end zone. However Steven Lopez was there to fall on it for a touchdown for a 20-7 lead.
Gibbens added a 27-yard field goal, his third of the night with 9:47 left in the contest for the final points of the evening.
The Chargers defense did the rest. In the second half they stopped Covina three times on fourth down and also forced a punt as the Colts were never able to establish a rhythm.
Covina also intercepted Berry twice as Adrian Rachal and Jayson Porter had picks but the Colts offense was unable to take advantage.
For the Colts Jake Duronlset completed 11 of 17 for 103 yards and Rangel ran for 39 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.
Berry threw for 162 yards and a touchdown on 10 of 21 and the two interceptions for Charter Oak. Munoz hauled in four passes for 103 yards and a score while Legend Lyons (cool name) caught five for 54.
Covina finished the season with an overall record of 9-3 while Charter Oak will face Highland next week at home in the Division 8 Semi Finals.
Dude it’s so hard to figure out hahaha.
My question is….what’s better 5-5 record with cupcake schedule or 2-8 with a hard schedule?
2-8 team does not belong in playoffs
re structure leagues and only automatic bids can make playoffs.
would make much more interesting playoffs and league games. This will force teams to play projected strength of league schedule in pre season.
how hard is it for CiF to figure this out.
Yes . You have to schedule right . Teams do not get credit for scheduling tough unless CIF favors you with magic wand ! How about one set of rules for everyone???
They had no problem being 9-1last year ; they were legit
This is another reason why their gifted playoff appearance unfair; young players get more weeks of practice and development . Undeserved. I’m not telling you not to root for your team just saying CIF hypocritical fork tongued authority
I don’t have a dog in the fight.
What if Charter Oak would have scheduled a cupcake schedule and got another 3 wins. Now they’re 5-5. A .500 record is worthy of the playoffs right? A 2-8 record is not right?
Here’s my point, is CIF trying to reward teams for scheduling up rather than scheduling down?
Thoughts?
It takes two to schedule. You say schedule light but no one wants to play them. They are forced to go into the oc or baseline. Area coaches will talk on Twitter but won’t sign the contract.
Northview cancelled the contract, charter oak asks to play them ever year. Northview has a fantastic program, tough kids and great coaches, but they lose to charter oak every year. Covina northview San dimas are blocks away from each other but don’t want to play.
I have a friend whose son plays for Covina. When he told me Charter Oak was 2 – 8 I asked how does a team with that record go to the playoffs? I never heard of “petitioning” to enter the playoffs. It’s almost like the new MLB baseball playoffs with the wild cards. To me as a former high school baseball, softball, and basketball coach for a few Catholic high schools and 6 years at Eagle Rock HS LAUSD, this just tells me that the CIF just let’s every school in with no real effort based on record. What is Ch. Oak lost 9 games? Could th”ey still petition? And as far as “improbable ” runs , it happens and somehow teams just go on streaks which can be “magical,” but the CIF showed no integrity and fairness to other D8 schools that deserve to be there.
This a very young team. Do they even have 10 seniors on the roster? Maybe another back to back championship in the making. Dry your tears, Haters.
They were supposed to be better and got rewarded for not living up
to expectations. We all want the horse race to be fair ; there are many schools whose leagues feature teams in much higher divisions ; if you are worried about that then schedule light in preseason. Northview should schedule them
2-8! shouldn’t qualify for playoffs
Many teams were excluded with better records #playbytherules
The cream rises to the top. I really don’t understand all the whining here. Schedule up and find out early. Simple. I had a horse in this race, too.
That was a good Covina team. Those kids were really tough. #2 was really hitting. It was a great neighborhood game. Both coaches seemed to display class, and all the players showed the same. It’s all these adults on Twitter that really don’t represent. I hope we don’t have to wait another 20 years for them to play again.
Maybe area schools will schedule charter oak. Covina, San dimas, south hills, northview. Those schools say no all the time. Charter oak doesn’t go 2-8 against teams in the same area. Now they can’t hide
Calling CO’s run improbable is the opposite of reality. Playing In D8 when projected as high as a D3 in pre-season with D1 players they were bound to have a run. It is BA or SF playing in D8. Putting a 2-8 powerhouse in a lower division is a crime to the other teams that worked hard. Teams that get in with a bended knee plea should not be rewarded with a cake walk entry.
From T. Peterson: To me it’s improbable that they’re even in the playoffs as in with a 2-8 record they probably wouldn’t make it. But they did so it’s improbable as per the definition.
Tim doesn’t even put current record in summary because 4-8 is embarrassing!
From T. Peterson: Embarrassing I guess… I don’t know. Still in the Semi Finals. It is what it is.
What does that have to do with this year ???
Playoff entry and placement according to CIF based solely on THIS year ! #hypocrisy
crazy stuff , but 2 and 8 record appears do not belong, until we scientifically observe previous statistical data! Charter Oak has been a dominant force, even in higher divisions consistently . (lost track after both sons graduated high school 10 to 15 years ago) But Charter Oak was powerhouse then , so I will not join in suggesting should no be in lower level playoff