Photos by Gwen Pointer
Football:
In the 2024 regular-season finale, Damien blocked a Rancho Cucamonga field-goal attempt at RCHS on the final play of the game to secure both a three-point victory and a first Baseline League championship.
Fast forward to October 3rd of 2025, and Rancho Cucamonga led from the 6:20 mark of the first quarter to the final second of regulation.
On the last play of the game, and DHS having to get the snap off before the game clock expired, Damien’s Isaiah Arriaza rolled to his right, tossed it into a crowded end zone and Travon Garrison made a terrific play for a 40-yard touchdown reception.
That pulled the Spartans to within 24-22 of their visitors and it forced a two-point conversion attempt.
The 2-point play was made a little more difficult after a 5-yard penalty on the Spartans.
Instead of needing two yards to tie the game and perhaps having an RPO dialed up, it forced a pass from seven yards out.
As he had just done on the previous play, Arriaza rolled to his right, but the star senior’s pass didn’t come close to being completed.
It set off a raucous celebration, as Rancho Cucamonga handed the Spartans their first loss of the 2025 season, and they did so on Damien’s home field.
Until the two fourth-quarter scores, RCHS controlled throughout, and they were able to pressure Arriaza for much of the night.
On the game’s opening drive, the Cougars converted on a fourth-down attempt and capped it with a 38-yard field goal from Romano Annecchini.
Arriaza drove Damien deep into RCHS territory, but Nate Mensah picked the Spartans’ senior in the end zone and brought it back more than 50 yards.
Rancho Cucamonga would use that field position to take a 10-0 lead on James Strong III’s 1-yard TD run.
Malachi McFarland showed his blazing speed on a 78-yard TD run in the first quarter, but the Spartans missed their extra-point attempt.
And that proved costly at the end.
The Cougars scored twice more in the second quarter to take a 24-6 lead into the half.
Strong caught a 76-yard TD pass from Jacob Chambers, and then Tyree Wilson and Chambers hooked up on a 19-yard score.
Damien’s defense kept the Cougars off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
The only third quarter points was a 30-yard field goal from Dillon MacKie.
The Spartans stormed back, as Arriaza converted on a pair of fourth-down plays to extend the last two drives.
Gavin Williams 7-yard TD reception pulled DHS to within 24-16 of RCHS.
And while Arriaza and Garrison combined on a Hail Mary, the Spartans fell just short.
Both Strong and Chambers combined for north of 200 yards of total offense.
Strong gained 102 yards on the ground and 101 receiving, including a pair of TDs.
Chambers totaled 142 yards through the air and 87 with his feet.
Arriaza finished with 185 passing yards and the two fourth-quarter scores.
Williams had four catches for 83 yards in the loss.
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Box Score:
RC: 10-14-0-0-(24)
D: 6-0-3-13-(22)
Scoring:
R: Romano Annecchini 37 FG
R: James Strong III 1 run (Romano Annecchini kick)
D: Malachi McFarland 78 run (kick failed)
R: James Strong III 76 pass from Jacob Chambers (Romano Annecchini kick)
R: Tyree Wilson 19 pass from Jacob Chambers (Romano Annecchini kick)
D: Dillon MacKie 30 FG
D: Gavin Williams 7 pass from Isaiah Arriaza (Dillon MacKie kick)
D: Gavin Williams 36 pass from Isaiah Arriaza (pass failed)
Friday’s Baseline League Scores:
Etiwanda 40, Ayala 0
Chino Hills 27, Upland 21
RCHS 24, Damien 22
Next Week’s Schedule:
Chino Hills at Ayala
RCHS at Upland
Damien at Etiwanda
Baseline League Standings:
Chino Hills (4-2, 1-0)
Etiwanda (3-3, 1-0)
RCHS (2-4, 1-0)
Damien (5-1, 0-1)
Upland (1-5, 0-1)
Ayala (0-6, 0-1)
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