By Tim Peterson
(Covina) – Bonita jumped out to a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter and rolled from there in a 49-21 rout of Charter Oak Friday night on the Chargers home field.
The Bearcats dominated in every way possible They did it by air – Travis Lippert threw three long touchdown passes-and on land as they scored three on the ground. The defense did its part as well as Joseph Lara had a pick six of 42 yards in the first quarter.
Lara had huge night for Bonita as he ran for 182 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown to go along with the interception return for a score.
Bonita got started on its first play from scrimmage as Lippert hit Dylan Robinson for a 75-yard touchdown. On the next series Lara stepped in front of a Corin Berry pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown and before the seats were even warm it was 14-0 Bearcats.
Later in the quarter Lara was loose again as he broke off a 49-yard touchdown run and Bonita led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter Bonita picked up right where it left off. Cole Parra took a swing pass from Lippert and took it to the house 56 yards to make it 28-0.
Charter Oak got on the board with 4:31 left in the second quarter when Marquis Bradley hauled in an 8-yard touchdown toss from Berry. But Bonita immediately responded when Lippert threw a bullet to Noah Mikhail who extended and made a great catch over the middle for a 34-yard score.
The Bearcats took the 35-7 lead into the half. The Chargers had a highlight early in third quarter when Bradley intercepted a pass and took it back 27 yards for a score.
But Bonita killed any momentum Charter Oak had when Mikhail capped a 74-yard drive with a three-yard TD run.
Berry scored from a yard out on a keeper late in the third for CO and the Bearcats finished the scoring in the fourth on a five-yard touchdown jaunt by Parra.
Lippert completed just seven passes but he made them count for 195 yards and the three TDs. Robinson had two catches for 87 yards.
For Charter Oak Bradley had seven catches for 100 yards.
Bonita, now 9-0 can finish an unbeaten regular season next week and wrap up the Sierra League with a win over Colony. Charter Oak fell to 7-2 and 3-1 in league.
You may want to ask this. Why C.O’s not only starters but stars were still in the game on the last series when they zero chance of winning? But what do I know.
How many starters were out for CO? Neither team wants to be in D3. CO learned that lesson a few years ago after going 10-0. Bonita is about the learn for themselves.
Bonita couldn’t beat the D5 winner whoever that will be once everything plays out.
CO can compete for a title in D7, but they won’t drop that low.
A 10-0 Bonita will put them in D3 with maybe a #1 seed. That said no team in D3 is an easy win.
Bonita is an impressive team. Their size and speed had CO looking like a JV team. Really thought this game would be closer. Bearcats should have no problem with Colony.
Depending on their placement, playoff run should be a deep one.