MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Covina) – Dominic Tortorelli ran for 219 yards and four touchdowns to lead Diamond Bar to a 41-28 win over Covina Thursday night at Covina District Field.

Tortorelli got started early with a three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and was still going strong in the fourth with another three-yard blast as the Brahmas were able to hold off the Colts.

In the fourth with Diamond Bar up 34-14 after a scoreless third quarter Covina Quarterback Roy Vasquez hit Kevin Perez with an 11-yard touchdown pass to cap a 70-yard drive. The Colts were within 13 points with over 11 minutes still left on the clock.

But the Brahmas responded immediately needing just five plays to score again. Tortorelli broke off a 35-yard run to set up his own three-yard score to put the game away.

Covina was able to score one more time as Vasquez hit Matt Olivas on a 13-yard touchdown pass but it was too little too late and the Brahmas ran out the clock.

The teams exchanged touchdowns in the first quarter. Tortorelli scored on a three-yard run to finish a 50-yard drive on Diamond Bar’s first possession. Covina quickly answered when Gatsbee Gumban got loose for a 37-yard touchdown run to tie it at seven.

Early in the second quarter, after Diamond Bar turned the ball over downs, Gatsbee was on the run again – this time it was a 37-yard scoring jaunt that put the Colts up 14-7.

Tortorelli answered Gatsbee’s punches by delivering a blow of his own. He rumbled 30 yards for a score to get the Brahmas even at 14.

Later in the quarter the Colts backed up Diamond Bar to the one yard-line with a perfect punt that settled just in front of the goal line as Covina downed it. But just two plays later Richard Perry got the Brahmas out of the hole as he hit the corner, broke outside and raced down the sideline for a 90-yard touchdown sprint and a 20-14 lead.

After forcing a Covina punt Diamond Bar pieced together a 7-play, 67-yard drive. This time they went to the air as Ryan Manning hit Zein Abdelaziz on a 28-yard strike in the corner of the end zone with just 54 seconds left in the second quarter.

Things went from bad to worse for the Colts faithful on the ensuing kickoff. The Colts were unable to field the kick and Diamond Bar fell on it at the Covina 20-yard line. Three plays later Tortorelli crashed into the end zone from nine yards out with 22 ticks left in the first half. Instead of being down two scores Covina was now looking at a 34-14 deficit heading into halftime.

The Colts battled but were never able to catch up or to catch Tortorelli. For Covina Gatsbee finished with 159 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Perez had four catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. Olivas had three receptions for 57 yards and a score.

Perry joined Tortorelli in the Diamond Bar ground attack with 116 yards and a score on six carries. The Brahmas had 381 rushing yards overall.

The win was the third straight for Diamond Bar after starting off 0-5. The Brahmas are now 3-5 and 3-0 in the Hacienda League. The Colts are 3-5 and 0-3.

DB 07 27 00 07 41

CO 07 07 00 14 28