By Duane Barker
(Whittier, CA) The Damien Spartans traveled south to Cal High’s Sandra Sanchez Thorstenson Stadium Thursday night to take on the La Serna Lancers in the first game of the 2024 season for both teams. The Spartans were victorious in last year’s meeting and repeated their accomplishment with a 42-21 victory.
Last year’s loss didn’t do to much harm to the Lancer’s season as the went on to win a CIF title. They will look to rebound again off the loss in 2024.
The Spartans were led by James Taylor and Isaiah Arriaza who accounted for five of the seven scores. Taylor with 110-yards and one score and Arriaza with three through the air and one on the ground. Arriaza threw for 208-yards.
Damien received the kickoff to start the game and then marched 80-yards on six plays. The drive was capped by a 32-yard pass from Arriaza to Travon Garrison. The point after was good and the Spartans had the early lead 7-0
The Spartans closed out the first quarter with another score this time it was Arriaza on the ground from 5-yards out. With 1:05 left in the first, Damien led 14-0.
With 8:06 left in the second, La Serna got on the board driving 68-yards on 8 plays. Jordan Bonilla found Kaimana Tufaga over the middle and Tufaga did the rest, going 46-yards for the score. The point after was good and the Lancers cut the lead to 14-7. Tufaga finishes with three catches for 64-yards and the lone score.
As time was running out in the first half, the Spartans got on the board again with a 27-yard pass from Arriaza to Gavin Lannon.
Early in the third quarter Damien extended its lead to 28-7 on a 9-yard pass from Arriaza to Raymon Ahumada that finished off a 6-play, 59-yard drive.
Later in the third, La Serna got on the board again on a 68-yard strike from Grady Long to Emre Law cutting the lead in half 28-14.
Early in the final frame the Spartans extended their lead back to 21 on a 4-yard run by Taylor to complete a 12-play, 67-yard drive.
The Lancers cut the lead back down to 14 with 6:32 left in the game when Ayden Contreras punched in it from 4-yards away.
During the kickoff, La Serna attempted an onside kick but failed giving the Spartans the ball at the Lancer 48. Six plays later Leviticus Mitchell sliced his way through the Lancer defense en route to a 16-yard score.
Damien will be on the road again next week to tangle with the Loyola Cubs while La Serna with be back at home to host the Schurr Spartans.
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Not sure if Bonilla was around when they had another QB battle with a “Long” and the other QB CJ Seron. CJ was the obvious better QB but the Long’s personal realtionship with the Coach would win. Just as it will now. Too bad noone warned Bonilla about a battle he’s not going to win. But if I am correct QB Long did break a school record for LS- throwing the most interceptions. Don’t believe the “tough” decision for Andy George.. he knows exactly what he’s going to do and noone will convince him otherwise.
@PoopMaster
I’m Reading your comment that with my sarcasm eyes because that comment is atrocious.
la serna exposed as the fraudulent midgets they are. jabroni program should be playing 8 man.
2 key factors in HSFB to live by, go where you are needed, but most of all go where you are wanted.
I only offer an opinion . Hopefully , a wise one developed from years of hard work , research and in vivo experience
What happened last year will have no
Bearing on what division they are placed in this year
Word on the street is that there’s a lot of slime on that sideline Bonilla needs to get out before it’s too late
Correct
August 23, 2024 – 10:47 a LS deserve , and has earned every title ! Do you have one ounce of knowledge about LS’s history over maybe ten to twenty year in the past. Well genius, back then they were coached by a very different group of coaches who usually led their teams to much lesser quality , and finished third or fourth place in league. Santa Fe with Coach Mahlsted was pretty dominant with their transfers from Norwalk schools until SF cut off the transfers because ‘STATE testing became major focus. Administration at SF and district focus was on high state test scores. A lot of the transfers from schools close to SF did not have very good academic background , which caused SF to lose some of previous advantages of a couple top notch players . Cal Hi also was pretty dominant in league under Patricio in 1998 through about 2001 when they were losing by 28 going into fourth quarter. Cal scored 27 quickly but missed final extra point
Correct is incorrect! I suggest this and no claim I am perfectly right. If you had a family member on the second string of a great team; and he never missed practice, had a good attitude and team player, and possibly would be a starter on all other teams in league, would you think he should get playing time in games when LS is kicking a? LS staff has lots of respect for the second teamers who play on the “scout defense and offensive teams’ against the first team players all week long. And ‘scores somewhat tight?” Name one league game that was even a little close. Can you? LS going easy in league games? For getting 30 or 40 or more team players , who earned the right to get in games, is so LS can move down a division and compete against lower quality CIF teams? NO WAY! The staff is very good so give them credit
New World? LS is not going to drop a division for losing games! You actually think the team that won CIF and State championship will be put in a lower division? I apologize if you mean ” lower division into a lower number of the division’.
New World you know it all?
New World ? How do you know everything
Bonilla better stay. He will get PT playing safety maybe. Otherwise he runs the risk of being another Hype Grand. A QB with no place to call home.
Wow, just an observation here. There sure is a lot of hating if this La Serna team. They are a very sound program were kids want to go. Open enrollment or transfers or not. They are solid talent and coaching wise. I’m quite sure that any HS program would absolutely love to be in their situation.
La Serna coaches???? Lmao , they looked better than the cheer team and student section combined hahahahahah doing cartwheels down the field after their kid threw a set up pass in garbage time touchdown hahahahaha
The coaches are ecstatic, jumping up and down when the tall kid scores against Damien’s backup defense, as if they’ve just won the championship. Clearly, Bonilla is superior, but as we’ve discussed, that won’t change anything. For example, Coach George is choosing the starting quarterback for the Schurr game before the Damien game even begins. It shows that Bonilla’s performance won’t necessarily make a difference. If Bonilla is wise, he’ll consider leaving sooner rather than later.
Correct LS will be chest bumping vs powerhouse Schurr next week. The Kings of del rio bahhhhhaaa. Did anyone tell Bonilla family that the staff doesn’t want him there? The coaching staff thinks they’re slick the way they’re playing the QB situation but those who been around have seen this movie before it’s beyond obvious, never been or will be a competition it’s all a plan they’re just buying time getting “their guy” ready.Everything is planned from who starts what games to play calling. What fools.
Nice cover up name … That was their excuse, but regardless they’re taking care of “ their “ guy in one of the most bizarre pre game tweets from Fred Robledo…. George, picking the starter for next weeks game vs Schurr when asked about last nights starter. But hey everyone told them what was going to happen only their fault for not listening. Lmao
You run the risk of a divided locker room when there’s a qb controversy especially with 2 kids in the same grade.
LS to play Schurr from the tough Almont league. The Lancers will need their A game if they are to prevail against the Almont League champion
LS was out coached last night. The talent margin didn’t look or feel like it was too much for a team with the best coaching staff in the SGV
@ New World,
Spot on! Now look at it this way too. A DRL 2nd place team can actually get bumped up for simply showing up on the same field as La Serna because strength of schedule goes up by playing a team that much higher rated than them. So it bumps La Serna down while bumping up their league mates.
Bonilla needs to act like he’s been there pointing at the other sideline and then running into the ref like an idiot. Should have took him out then that would have been a good excuse. Bonilla is good but Long is their dude.
Furthermore , CalPreps caps the victory margin at 30 ….so winning 37-7 is the same as winning 63-7 . The related but more specific issue is the weakness of Del Rio . The second best team last year had -10 rating . So the game rating for LaSerna would then +20 ( or better). So they end of getting rated more on their preseason games vs quality competition . Winning these games (2022) hurt them; losing these game 2023) is magic formula
I agree that if La Serna gets put into a more competitive league, then the gravy train of cheap titles is over. The hill program will experience exactly what La Habra did when the Highlanders’ string of CIF championships came to an abrupt end. It’s way past time for a shake-up here.
If the rumors are true that La Serna will be put in a more competitive league, and the
Montebello schools will join a restructured Del Rio League. Then this may be the last year of
La Serna Dominance. Open enrollment wont benefit LS as much if they have to play Warren, Downey
every year in league. Majority of the kids may stay at their own schools.
New World & Correct,
You are both correct.
A few observations from someone attending his first game at California High School. Good size parking lot, was lucky to arrive early enough to avoid the traffic issues a lot of people were talking about. Damien looks very talented however the loss of Bechtel definetely hurt them, most likely deserving of the #1 ranking in Fred J Robledo’s eyes.
La Serna’s Kaimana Tufaga is lightning fast, surprised to see his D1 offer sheet is not very long, perhaps going to LS did not do him any favors. QB play looked a bit erratic perhaps because Damien was applying constant pressure. They appear to have swapped the QB’s multiple times tonight, #18 throws a nice ball and an appears to be a good field general. #1 great size and length, cannon arm and seemed to extend plays when the team needed it.
Seen a few games last year and they put in bench players after half like lost teams so when it’s a blowout. But if they Lee their guys in a win by 60 instead of 40 you’re still crying.
What also helps La Serna get dropped into a lower playoff division is using bench players during league play, making the scores seem somewhat tight, when they would have otherwise been massive blowouts. The morons among us probably think LS is virtuous for going easy on league foes, but the truth is much more disgusting.
These losses help LS postseason chances , as it places them on lower division. League championship is not in doubt.