MidValleySports.Com

West Covina’s Niko Johnson had two picks to lead a solid defensive effort

(West Covina) – Niko Johnson picked off two passes and the West Covina defense forced four turnovers overall to lead the Bulldogs to a 21-19 win over Muir Friday night in the CIF Southeast Division Quarterfinals.

Muir had the ball and a chance to move into position to kick a game winning field goal with 1:29 left in the contest but West Covina stopped the Mustangs on four straight downs with Johnson knocking down a Joshua Muema-washington pass on fourth down.

The Bulldogs then took a couple of knees to run out the clock.

It looked like West Covina wouldn’t need to make key stops late in the game when it first got underway. On Muir’s first play from scrimmage Johnson intercepted Muema-washington and West Covina took over at the Muir eight yard line. Antonio “Noodles” Hull scored on the next play and with just 16 seconds gone the Bulldogs were up 6-0 after a missed extra point.

The Mustangs had to punt on their next possession but on their third series they found their groove. After forcing West Covina to punt deep in its own territory, Muir took over at the West Covina 39. The Stangs needed just five plays to tie it up as Muema-washington found Devin Leagons over the middle for a 25 yard touchdown. Leagons caught the ball in stride in the endzone on a perfectly thrown pass. West Covina blocked the extra point attempt and it was 6-6.

It was West Covina’s turn to turn the ball over on its next series. The Bulldogs coughed it up at midfield and Muir took control at the 50. The Mustangs used six plays this time with Andreece Brown plunging into the endzone from a yard out. The extra point gave Muir a 13-6 lead at the half.

Neither team scored in the third but late in the quarter Johnson again thwarted a Muir drive by stepping in front of a Muema-washington pass. West Covina set up shop at its own 48 and was on the move as the fourth quarter began. The Bulldogs began to pound Aaron Salgado. He had a 14-yard run to highlight a ten-play drive and then finished it with a two yard touchdown run. Salgado also rammed in on the two point conversion for a 14-13 lead early in the fourth.

The Bulldog defense rose up again Muir’s next series. David Ford made a  leaping grab of a Muema-washington toss for WestCo’s third pick of the night. Quarterback Henry Tarin, playing for the injured Jon Najera, hit Sidney Jones down the near sideline. Jones caught the pass and carried a couple of Muir defenders with him for a 53-yard catch and carry down to the Muir ten yard line. Salgado did the rest busting in for a four yard touchdown run.

With 6:53 left and an eight point lead, West Covina seemed to be in good shape. But that all changed on the ensuing kick off. Brown fielded it, swerved through West Covina traffic and by the time the Bulldogs caught up with him, he had raced 92 yards down to the five. Three plays later it was Brown again from three yards getting outside and hitting the corner for a touchdown. The Mustangs went for two but muema-Washington was stopped cold at the goal line and West Covina was clinging to a 21-19 lead.

The Bulldogs faced a crucial fourth and two with less than four minutes remaining at their own 28 on the next series. West Covina Coach Mike Maggiore rolled the dice, Hull gained four yards on the carry for a first down and West Covina burned more time off the clock. West Covina did have to have to kick it away after three more plays but by the time Muir got the ball back there was only 1:29 left.

The Mustangs went four and out with Johnson fittingly making the final play and West Covina’s quest for a third staight title was still alive.

Salgado rushed for 70 hard earned yards and two scores on 17 carries. Hull had 127 yards on 28 carries.

The Bulldogs now move into the semi finals for a rematch of last year’s CIF Finals with La Serna at Cal High. La Serna knocked off Dominguez 29-13.