MidValleySports.Com

By Alex A. Gonzalez

Glendora – The Bonita Bearcats played spoiler on a cool Friday night at Citrus College as they took care of business against Glendora with a 27-14 win to start Sierra league play, keeping their perfect season intact. 

Travis Lippert threw two touchdown passes, one to Noah Mikhail for a 41-yard strike and another to Jacob Gill for 28 yards. Joseph Lara added a rushing score as Bonita blew out the Tartan’s Homecoming candles.

“It feels great (to stay undefeated). It was a great team win, and Glendora is a great team,” said Mikhail postgame. “It’s a great way to open up league.” 

Within the first 12 minutes of play of the Week 6 match-up between the teams, the Bearcats received very little resistance from the Tartans as they were able to soar to a 21-point lead. 

Lippert’s touchdown pass to Mikhail from 41 yards out started the party. Then, after Bonita’s defense stuffed any movement from Glendora’s offense, the offense took a 14-0 lead when Joseph Lara punched in his first rushing touchdown of the night from eight yards out. 

The lead became 21-0 late in the first quarter when Lippert threw his second touchdown pass of the night, this time to Gill. 

Then, in the second quarter, the Tartan offense woke up and was able to make it a 7-point ball game just before the Homecoming celebration. 

Midway through the second quarter, Glendora compiled a 14-play drive of short passes and ran up the middle to set the team’s first score of the night. With the ball placed at the 1-yard line, Austin Coronado took the snap, followed his lead blocker, and punched in his only score of the night. 

Then, shortly after the defense flustered Bonita and forced them to punt, the offense only needed two plays to bring the game within a score. 

Tailback Jarod Ceniceros took the handoff, got a block, and from there, he was off to the races for a 42-yard score with 2:33 remaining in the second quarter. 

That was the closest the team would get for the remainder of the contest. 

After the break, Bonita’s second-half adjustments forced their opposition to punt on their first possession, and then they turned around and handed the ball off to both Mikhail and Para. 

The two combined for seven carries out of the nine plays on the drive. Para was the one who shut the door on the comeback when he took the carry from the three-yard line and reached pay dirt. The point-after attempt was blocked, resulting in a score of 27-14 at 7:01 in the third period. 

The score was the final blow to the Tartans, as they could not reach midfield for the remainder of the half. 

Bonita’s 13-point advantage was all that was needed as they were able to run the clock out thanks to their three-headed attack at running back with Mikhail, Para, and Lara. 

With the win, the Bearcats will look to make it seven straight wins next Friday night when they host Claremont. For Glendora, they will look to rebound next Friday when they travel to Colony.