Photos by Josh Thompson & Beth Oualline

Football:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

If Friday’s CIF-SS Division 8 quarterfinal round game between Covina and their hosts from Charter Oak was played on paper, the Colts would have a decided edge.

And one might think they’d cruise to victory.

At first glance, CHS has nine wins as compared to just three for COHS.

The Colts have scored 257 points more than the Chargers, and their defense has surrendered 88 less points.

To put the offensive comparison in its proper perspective, consider the following: the COHS offense has a combined 24 TD’s (14 passing & 10 rushing), while CHS has 53 (24 passing & 29 rushing).

Thankfully for those in Charter Oak blue, games are not played on paper, and here’s where the stat comparison gets interesting.

Through 11 games, only two of Charter Oak’s opponents were under .500, and they have a combined record of 71-45.

Covina’s competition totaled 54 wins and 61 losses, and seven of the 11 finished under the .500 mark.

Charter Oak is coming off a 21-14 victory at North Torrance in overtime, and Covina headed home from Fontana with a 34-27 triumph at Summit.

It doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar or a member of Mensa to understand the key component in Friday’s showdown.

Will Charter Oak be able to slow down a Covina offense that averages 42 points per game, which is tops among the 27 programs within the 210 Prep Sports coverage zone.

And will they be able to pressure junior quarterback, Jake Duronslet, who recently set the program record for career touchdowns.

Duronslet now has 74 career TD’s, and he surpassed the 5,000-yard club three weeks ago.

In 2023, he’s completed 139-of-212 for 2,165 yards,

Duronslet has 24 TD passes and he’s been picked 10 times.

Corin Berry didn’t play in all 11 games for Charter Oak, but he’s completed 111-of-238 for 1,492 yards.

Berry had 12 TD passes and he’s been intercepted 14 times.

Covina averages 158 yards on the ground, which is 65 more than Charter Oak.

The Colts are led by Joaquin Barragan (90 carries for 693 yards & 13 TD’s) and Joseph Rangel (82 for 685 yards & 12 TD’s), but Duronslet also has nearly 300 yards rushing and five TD’s.

For Charter Oak, Aaron Rivera (82 for 330 & 3 TD’s) and Curtiss Taylor (39 for 205 & 4 TD’s) have led the way, but they have five running backs with north of 100 yards.

The Colts have a two-headed monster amongst their receiving corps.

Abraham Perez (44 catches for 838 yards & 8 TD’s) and Adrian Rachal (42 for 583 & 10 TD’s) have both had remarkable runs during their senior campaigns.

COHS junior Legend Lyons has been a stud all season with 52 receptions for 737 and 6 TD’s.

But Isaiah Perez (29 for 311 & 1 TD) and Sean Munoz (15 for 247 & 3 TD’s) have also been key for the Chargers.

On defense, look out for Charter Oak’s Lavar Arrington, who shares the same name as his Super Bowl winning father.

Arrington had four sacks alone last week, and has 10 for the season.

Joel Sanchez (COHS) heads into Friday’s game with 95 tackles, which is 25 more than anyone on either side.

Joseph Rangel has been a huge contributor on both sides of the ball, and he leads the Colts with 70 tackles.

Covina (Luke Dobszewicz & Adrian Rachal), and Charter Oak (Michael White and Nathan Ibarra) have two players with three interceptions apiece.

MaxPreps has CHS ranked 13 spots above COHS in their state rankings, and Calpreps is predicting a one-point (27-26) victory for the Colts.

Here’s hoping for a good, clean and injury-free quarterfinal round contest for Covina’s Kevin Glaspy and Charter Oak’s Dominic Farrar, their coaches and athletes.

Up next: The winner of Friday’s game will get the Brentwood (9-2) at Highland (7-4) victor in the semifinal round.

Brentwood is the top seed in Division 8.

By the Numbers:
Records: C (9-2); CO (3-8)
Points Scored: C (464); CO (207)
Points Allowed: C (218); CO (306)
Average Points Scored Per-Game: C (42); CO (19)
Average Points Allowed Per-Game: C (20); CO (28)
Passing Yards Per-Game: C (182); CO (143)
Rushing Yards Per-Game: C (158); CO (93)
League Finish: C (Second in Sierra); CO (third in Mountain West)
Covina’s Road Record: 6-0
Charter Oak’s Home Record: 1-3
Most Points Scored in a Game: C (70 vs Pomona); CO (41 vs Alta Loma)
Most Points Allowed in a Game: C (37 vs Northview); (48 vs Yorba Linda)
Current Streak: C (3W); CO (1W)
MaxPreps State Ranking: C (229); CO (241)
Calpreps Prediction: Covina 27, Charter Oak 26

Stat Leaders:

Quarterbacks:
Jake Duronslet (C): 139-of-212 for 2,165 yards, 24 TD’s & 10 picks
Corin Berry (CO): 111-of-238 for 1,492 yards, 12 TD’s & 14 picks

Running Backs:
Joaquin Barragan (C): 90 carries for 693 yards & 13 TD’s
Joseph Rangel (C): 82 for 685 yards & 12 TD’s
Jacob Perez (C)L 66 for 420 & 5 TD’s
Jake Duronslet (C): 51 for 296 & 5 TD’s
Aaron Rivera (CO): 82 for 330 & 3 TD’s
Curtiss Taylor (CO): 39 for 205 & 4 TD’s

Receivers:
Abraham Perez (C): 44 catches for 838 yards & 8 TD’s
Adrian Rachal (C): 42 for 583 & 10 TD’s
Devean Urrea (C): 12 for 248 & 1 TD
Kevin Perez (C): 11 for 153
Legend Lyons (CO): 52 for 737 & 6 TD’s
Isaiah Perez (CO): 29 for 311 & 1 TD
Sean Munoz (CO): 15 for 247 & 3 TD’s
Antonio Reasby (CO): 9 for 103 & 1 TD

Defense:

Tackles:
Joel Sanchez (CO) 95
Joseph Rangel (C): 70
Rey Marquez (C): 65
Joaquin Barragan (C) 60
Curtiss Taylor (CO): 60
Dean Vargas (C): 56
Jayson Porter (C): 53
Kamran Davis (C) 51
Michael White (CO) 51
Jacob Martinez (CO): 50
Jerry Ropke (C): 48
Julian Salmond (CO): 46
Jacob Herrera (CO): 44
Lavar Arrington (CO): 41

Sacks:
Lavar Arrington (CO): 10
Dean Vargas (C): 5
Curtiss Taylor (CO) 4.5
Rey Marquez (C): 4
Joaquin Barragan (C): 3
Aaron Rivera (CO): 3

Interceptions:
Adrian Rachal (C): 3
Jayson Porter (C): 3
Michael White (CO): 3
Nathan Ibarra (CO): 3
Rey Marquez (C): 2
Michael Moronez (CO): 2
Mateo Gonzalez (CO): 2

Covina’s Schedule & Results:
8/18: Covina 42, California 0
8/25: Covina 40, South Hills 14
8/31: Covina 42, Diamond Bar 32
9/8: Northview 37, Covina 35
9/15: Covina 37, La Salle 21
9/22: Covina 50, Sierra Vista 0
9/28: Covina 48, Montclair 8
10/13: Chino 38, Covina 25
10/20: Covina 70, Pomona 34
10/26: Covina 41, Rowland 7
11/3: Covina 34, Summit 27
11/10: Covina at Charter Oak

Charter Oak Schedule & Results:
8/18: Charter Oak 24, Temecula Valley 14
8/25: Chino Hills 21, Charter Oak 17
9/1: Glendora 46, Charter Oak 22
9/7: Yorba Linda 48, Charter Oak 27
9/15: Damien 35, Charter Oak 0
9/22: Upland 31, Charter Oak 10
9/29: Laguna Beach 18, Charter Oak 17
10/13: Charter Oak 41, Alta Loma 7
10/19: Ayala 45, Charter Oak 10
10/26: Bonita 27, Charter Oak 18
11/3: Charter Oak 21, North Torrance 14 (OT)
11/10: Covina at Charter Oak

CIF-SS Division 8 Scores:
Brentwood 20, Fountain Valley 0
Highland 20, San Dimas 18
Charter Oak 21, North Torrance 14
Covina 34, Summit 27
St. Pius 42, Barstow 21
St. Anthony 35, Tahquitz 34
Aliso Niguel 28, Lawndale 7
Jurupa Hills 28, Irvine 6

CIF-SS Division 8 Quarterfinal Round Schedule:
Brentwood at Highland
Covina at Charter Oak
St. Anthony at St. Pius
Aliso Niguel at Jurupa Hills

Mountain West League Standings:
Ayala (6-5, 3-0)
Bonita (9-2, 2-1)
Charter Oak (3-8, 1-2)
Alta Loma (1-9, 0-3)

Sierra League Standings:
Chino (11-0, 3-0)
Covina (9-2, 2-1)
Rowland (2-8, 1-2)
Pomona (4-6, 0-3)