MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Covina) – Gatsbee Gumban ran for 337 yards and four touchdowns to lead Covina to a 49-35 win over La Puente Thursday night to kick off the 2025 season at Covina District Field.

Gumban racked up 294 yards in the first half as the Colts led 42-28 at the break. There were just two scores, one by each team, in the second half.

La Puente actually scored first on the first possession on a 68-yard scoring pass from Ezekeil Zamora to Ivan Lopez for a 7-0 lead. The Colts then responded with three consecutive touchdowns.

First Gumban broke off a 37-yard run and then scored from eight yards out to get the Colts even. After a shanked punt set the Colts up again at the 23-yard line, Roy Vasquez found Edwin Sandoval for a seven-yard score and a 14-7 lead.

On the next series it was Gumban going boom again. This time he ripped off a 28-yard touchdown run leaving tacklers in his wake to put the Colts up 21-7.

In a back-and-forth affair the Warriors answered with a 54-yard pass play from Zamora to Aaron Silva to cut the lead to 21-14. With 2:44 left in the first quarter Roy Vazquez scored on a two-yard keeper to make it a two touchdown Colts advantage.

Early in the second quarter Lopez hauled in a 25-yard touchdown toss from Zamora to cut the lead 28-21. But for Covina it was Gumban time again.

First the junior running back mowed through the La Puente defenders for a 71-yard touchdown run. After the defense made a stop the Colts got the ball back and Gumban did his thing. He rumbled for 58 yards and another score and with 4:12 left in the half Covina was up 42-21.

La Puente had another murmur of protest as their main man, Silva, got to the outside and went 65 yards for a score. Covina was up 42-28 at the break.

It was a tale of two halves as only 14 points were put on the board in the second. La Puente scored early in the third on a 28-yard TD strike by Zamora but Colts defense held the Warriors the rest of the night.

Covina iced it when Joseph Ramirez picked off a Zamora pass and raced 38 yards for the final touchdown.

Zamora finished with 209 yards and three touchdowns through the air for La Puente and Silva anchored the ground attack with 184 yards rushing and two touchdowns and a score receiving.

But this game was all about one Gatsbee Gumban. Besides having a cool name, he had an even cooler game. He left the game with six minutes left with a leg cramp but his work had been done. His final line – 28 carries-337 yards-4 TDs. And the Covina faithful were singing “Gumbaya” all night long.

LP 14 14 7 0 35

CO 28 14 0 7 49