MidValleySports.Com

By Alex A. Gonzalez

Covina – As time expired in the third quarter Thursday night the Northview Vikings held a 23-21 lead on visiting Baldwin Park at Covina District Field. That was until Jaishon Bledsoe motioned from the slot into the backfield, took the handoff and ran the ball up the gut for the 17-yard touchdown, giving his team a nine-point lead.

Then, at the 9:24 mark in the fourth quarter, the Vikings turned to Bledsoe again, as the offense replicated the same play that had sprung him for a touchdown on the previous drive. The 36-yard run helped set up Aaroon Guillen’s 2-yard run, ultimately sealing the 37-21 win over the Braves to start Valle Vista league play. 

“The win was great,” said Bledsoe postgame. “We opened up the ground game like how our offensive coordinator was planning all week during practice.” 

At first, it looked like Northview was going to run away easily in the first half. On offense, they went back-to-back on scoring drives to start the game. Robert Lucero got the scoring started when he scrambled from the pocket to the wide side of the field for a 2-yard touchdown run. Then, after the defense forced Billy Carr to fumble on the Braves’ next possession, Lucero, who went 5-6 for 94 yards and two TDs on the night, completed his 15-yard pass to Isaiah Lucero for the game’s second touchdown. 

Baldwin Park then woke up and responded on their ensuing drive. The offense called just three plays, which covered 80 yards. Two of those plays went for 37 and 38 yards behind Valentino May’s completed passes to Anthony Fields and Choyce Hampton. The drive was capped by Hampton when he was on the receiving end of a screen pass and took it to the house for the score with 1:09 remaining in the first quarter. 

Northview blocked the PAT, keeping the score at 14-6.

After a slew of punts by both teams that brought the game clock down to less than a minute in the second quarter, Northview lined up for a 30-yard field goal. However, as the kick was missed to the left, Baldwin Park thought they had a chance to get one more score before intermission. 

That plan failed, however, when May had the snap sail over his head and into the endzone for the safety. Then, just 15 seconds later, Lucero dropped back to find Bledsoe running the screen, who then took it to the house from 35 yards out, giving his team a 23-6 lead at the break. 

The Braves then erased the 17-point deficit within the first 10 minutes of the third quarter. On their first possession, May, who went 14-25 for 258 yards and 3 touchdowns, connected with Elvis Diaz for the 37-yard strike. Then, in the next series for Northview, Lucero did not see the snap coming and fell on the ball for the safety. Baldwin Park was able to capitalize on the next drive when May hooked up with Jacory Coleman, making the score 23-21 after the offense failed the 2-point try with 2:14 in the third quarter. 

Northview was able to close the door on a comeback on their next drive that started with Bledsoe’s kickoff return to set the team up at the 45-yard line. Both Guillen and Bledsoe traded carries that marched the offense down the field. Then, with the ball placed on the 17-yard line, Bledsoe took the handoff, followed by two lead blockers, and ran right through the center of the Braves’ defense for the score. 

“Every time I get the ball, I’m going to score,” commented Bledsoe when talking about his third-quarter touchdown run. “I got to make a play.” 

Guillen then added his rushing score with 9:24 remaining in regulation, giving his team a 37-21 advantage. BP tried to respond, just as they had all night, but the offense fumbled the ball for a second time, and Jeremiah Alcantara claimed it for the Vikings, sealing the win. 

With the win, Northview will look to keep its four-game winning streak alive next Friday when it hosts Diamond Ranch. For Baldwin Park, they will try to avoid their third straight loss next Friday when they host Alta Loma.