MidValleySports.Com

The “Society of Bad Dudes” (the defense) kept Pomona alive when its offense struggled Thursday night. (Photo by Joe T.)

(Pomona) The Pomona Red Devils were close, had their shots, could have won it, but in the end were victims of the things so taken for granted by the spectator in the stands in a 10-8 loss to the visiting Santa Monica Vikings on Thursday night.

Playing without starting quarterback Darreon Lockett (arm injury and should be ready next week) and center Nicholas Meza the Red Devils were able to stay close thanks to their defense. Pomona essentially shutdown the Vikings attack in the second half, consistently pinning them deep in their own territory.

Trailing 10-o in the third the Red Devils offense took over at the Santa Monica 23 following a bad punt. A pass from Many Lua to Desmond Bobo covered 21-yards and set up a first and goal at the two. This was followed by a false start, then a bad snap from shotgun formation. Two plays later a fourth down pass fell incomplete.

With 10:19 to play in the fourth Lua got his team on the board with a 41-yard bomb to Bobo on fourth and 13. Andre Walker took a direct snap in for the deuce and the score was 10-8.

The Vikings coughed the ball up on their next possession and Pomona took control at the Santa Monica 39. A 19-yard pass to Bobo, a 9-yard run by Shawn Wilson, and 8-yard run by Lua brought them to a first and goal at the three with 8:27 to play. A first down run by Walker netted no gain. After a timeout Lua and back up center Alex Arroyas (normally the starting left tackle) failed to connect on the snap and the Vikings recovered the loose ball.

The Red Devils final drive was highlighted by a pair of completions to Kele Scott but a deep pass by Lua was intercepted by Santa Monica’s Zach Cooper.

***Lua finished 11 of 24 for 145 yards, one touchdown, one interception.

***Santa Monica scored on the game’s opening drive. Isaiah Johnson’s 11-yard scoring pass to Corde Sweets capped an 81-yard march.

***The Vikings Jordan Golden added a 27-yard field at the end of the first half to make it 10-0 at the break.

***Pomona center Nicholas Meza is expected to be back next week along with quarterback Darreon Lockett.

***The Red Devils started on the offensive line: LT: Manuel Colbert, LG: Christopher Mendez, C: Alex Arroyas, RG: Oliver Deerr, RT: Keeven Whatley.

***Pomona, now 2-4, plays at La Puente next week in the Miramonte League opener.

***The Red Devils had nine possessions in the game, six in the second half. Three ended in punts, three in turnover on downs, two on turnovers, and one in a touchdown. The offense managed just 214 total yards.

***Pomona’s Desmond Bobo now has six touchdowns on the season.

***”You didn’t see that? How can you not see that? He completely turned him around!”—Red Devil coaching staff when Santa Monica’s Cooper turned the corner and secured the game clinching first down in the final minutes.

***Pomona has not played La Puente, its next opponent, this century.