Pictured L-R: Bonita’s Jayden Montenegro (by Beth Oualline) & Ayala’s Marquis Monroe (Josh Thompson)

Football:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

In spite of it being the league opener for both programs, the winner of Friday’s Bonita-Ayala showdown will almost certainly win a Mountain West League championship in 2023.

Alta Loma and Charter Oak, the other two programs in the four-team MWL, are a combined 2-12, and they face off Friday night at ALHS.

Ayala (3-4) has won seven consecutive games against Bonita, and the closest was a 13-point victory in 2018.

The Bulldogs are playing at home and there is no secret to their success.

Of their 333 yards per game, 228 of those come from the ground game.

And Marquis Monroe will be in the Bearcats crosshairs all night.

Monroe averages 138 yards per game, and in 2023, he’s carried the ball 110 times for 962 yards and 14 TD’s.

Jedi Hernandez has rushed for 449 yards and two scores for AHS.

The Bulldogs’ passing game is down approximately 110 yards (per game) from a year ago, but Maximus Barroso has started to find his rhythm.

Barroso has completed 37-of-67 for 532 yards.

He’s tossed seven TD’s and two interceptions.

Drew Amico leads the Ayala receiving corps with 22 catches for 348 yards and four TD’s.

Monroe has 10 receptions for 135 yards and one score.

Bonita (6-1) is literally two points from being 7-0.

The lone loss was a 14-13 setback to Northview back on September 28th.

Statistically, the Bearcats have scored 50 points more and allowed 129 less points than the Bulldogs.

Daniel Mielke and the BHS air assault averages 100 yards more than the AHS passing game.

Mielke has completed 88-of-149 for 1,395 yards, including 12 TD’s and four picks.

Ayala has a 28-yard (228-200) advantage on the ground, but Bonita has three running backs that have scored five TD’s or more.

Jayden Montenegro has had a remarkable senior season.

Montenegro leads the Bearcats in rushing (575 yards & six TD’s) & receiving (36 catches for 479 & five TD’s).

Cole Parra has excelled on both sides of the ball, and he has 295 yards rushing and five scores.

The game’s most sought after athlete by NCAA Division 1 coaches, Noah Mikhail, has 220 rushing yards and five TD’s, and 21 receptions for 290 yards and three TD’s.

Mikhail’s 86 tackles on defense is 38 more than Ayala’s Jeshua Hennerty, who has 48.

If the Bonita defense can keep Monroe in check, their chances of victory go up substantially.

Both teams are very well coached, and it doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to think the program with the least turnovers and penalties will likely head home the winner.

Stat Leaders:

Passing:
Daniel Mielke (B): 88-of-149 for 1,395 yards, 12 TD’s & four interceptions
Maximus Barroso (A): 37-of-67 for 532 yards, seven TD’s & two interceptions

Rushing:
Jayden Montenegro (B): 54 carries for 575 yards & six TD’s
Cole Parra (B): 39 carries for 294 yards & five TD’s
Noah Mikhail (B): 32 carries for 220 yards & five TD’s
Marquis Monroe (A): 110 carries for 962 yards & 14 TD’s
Jedi Hernandez (A): 86 carries for 449 yards & two TD’s

Receiving:
Jayden Montenegro (B): 36 catches for 479 yards & five TD’s
Noah Mikhail (B): 21 catches for 290 yards & three TD’s
Ryder Cadam (B): 13 catches for 262 yards & two TD’s
Dylan Robinson (B): eight catches for 220 yards & three TD’s
Drew Amico (A): 22 catches for 348 yards & four TD’s
Marquis Monroe (A): 10 catches for 135 yards & one TD
Jaden Valenzuela (A): eight catches for 128 yards & two TD’s
Jedi Hernandez (A): seven catches for 68 yards & two TD’s

Sacks:
Dominic Avelar (B): 5
Niko Partida (A): 2

Interceptions:
Jacob Maddox (B) 3
Marquis Monroe (A): 2
Dewaun Nettingham (A): 2

Tackles Leaders:
Noah Mikhail (B): 86
Jeshua Hennerty (A): 48
Cole Parra (B): 46
Dominic Avelar (B): 46
Dominic Williams (A): 43
Dewaun Nettingham (A) 42
Jacob Maddox (B): 37
Dylan Robinson (B): 37
Drew Amico (A): 31
Marquis Monroe (A): 31

By the Numbers:
Records: B (6-1); A (3-4)
Points Scored: B (252); A (202)
Points Allowed: B (86); A (215)
Total Offense Per Game: B (406); A (333)
Passing Yards Per Game: B (206); A (105)
Rushing Yards Per Game: B (200); A (228)
Most Points Scored in a Game: B (56 vs Monrovia); A (49 vs Glendora)
Most Points Allowed in a Game: B (31 vs Ontario Christian); A (40 vs Leuzinger)
Bonita Road Record: 3-0
Ayala Home Record: 2-1
Current Streak: B (1W); A (1L)
MaxPreps State Ranking: B (133); A (93)
Game Prediction by the Website, Calpreps: Ayala 34, Bonita 20

Recent Ayala-Bonita Scores:
2022: Ayala 41, Bonita 18
2021: Ayala 35, Bonita 14
2020: Ayala 27, Bonita 0
2019: Ayala 31, Bonita 6
2018: Ayala 24, Bonita 11
2017: Ayala 62, Bonita 14
2016: Ayala 20, Bonita 0
2015: Bonita 37, Ayala 7

Bonita’s Schedule-Results:
8/18: Bonita 56, Monrovia 21
8/25: Bonita 34, Ontario Christian 31
8/31: Bonita 44, La Salle 0
9/9: Bonita 28, San Dimas 0
9/15: Bonita 28, Los Osos 14
9/28: Northview 14, Bonita 13
10/6: Bonita 49, Sierra Vista 6
10/13: Bonita at Ayala
10/19: Alta Loma at Bonita
10/26: Charter Oak at Bonita

Ayala Schedule-Results:
8/18: Ayala 35, Colony 28
8/25: Etiwanda 28, Ayala 20
9/1: Leuzinger 40, Ayala 19
9/15: Ayala 42, Chino Hills 28
9/22: Citrus Valley 35, Ayala 24
9/28: Ayala 49, Glendora 14
10/6: San Clemente 42, Ayala 13
10/13: Bonita at Ayala
10/19: Ayala at Charter Oak
10/27: Alta Loma at Ayala

Mountain West League Standings:
Bonita (6-1, 0-0)
Ayala (3-4, 0-0)
Charter Oak (1-6, 0-0)
Alta Loma (1-6, 0-0)

Week 8 Schedule:
Charter Oak at Alta Loma
Bonita at Ayala