Thanks to Shaun Kelley for game info & stats
Football:
The Baseline League showdown between two undefeated programs was everything a game of that magnitude should be.
Both teams led on Friday night, and there was a dramatic ending, but Rancho Cucamonga survived, 36-35, at Damien.
The Spartans trailed 36-29 with less than a minute to play until Isaiah Arriaza hit Elijah Bechtel on a 14-yard TD pass to pull DHS to within one point.
Damien elected to go for two, though, and their pass attempt failed.
The Spartans ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Cougars.
Rancho Cucamonga has now won nine consecutive Baseline League games over Damien.
RCHS had a 442-360 advantage in total yards, and Damien had 23 first downs as opposed to 17 for the Cougars.
Emiliano Villareal completed 14-of-21 for 267 yards and three TD’s.
Villareal hooked up with Daniel Winbush on TD passes of 31 and 17 yards.
Villareal also had a 33-yard scoring strike to Jonah Dawson to give RCHS a 14-7 lead in the first quarter.
Trey Wilson had a monster night with 156 yards on 18 carries.
And that included TD runs of 43 and 1 yard.
Nehemiah Harrison (four catches for 81 yards), Dawson (3-73, 1 TD), Winbush (4-60, 2 TD’s) and Cameron Sermons (2-59) led the Cougars receiving corps.
Isaiah Arriaza completed 15-of-25 for 211 yards.
As mentioned above, Arriaza had the late TD pass to Bechtel, and a 2-yard TD run.
Zachary Eguia had a big night for the Spartans.
Eguia rushed for 99 yards on 18 carries.
He also scored on TD runs of 4 and 3 yards.
Ayden Gutierrez caught four passes for 89 yards, and Gutierrez had a 98-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter to catch RCHS at 29-29.
Up next: The Cougars and Spartans will finish out the regular season on Thursday.
RCHS travels to Upland, and DHS visits Etiwanda.
Upland could potentially throw a wrench into the league hierarchy if they’re able to defeat the visiting Cougars this coming Thursday.
Box Score:
RC: 14-0-22-0-(36)
D: 7-15-7-6-(35)
Scoring:
RC: Daniel Winbush 31 pass from Emiliano Villareal (Romano Annecchni kick)
D: Isaiah Arriaza 2 run (Preston Yado kick)
RC: Jonah Dawson 33 pass from Emiliano Villareal (Romano Annecchni kick)
D: Zachary Eguia 4 run (Arriaza to Eguia pass is good)
D: Zachary Eguia 3 run (Preston Yado kick)
RC: Trey Wilson 43 run (Jonah Dawson run)
RC: Trey Wilson 1 run (Romano Annecchni kick)
D: Ayden Gutierrez 98 kickoff return (Preston Yado kick)
RC: Daniel Winbush 17 pass from Emiliano Villareal (Romano Annecchni kick)
D: Elijah Bechtel 14 pass from Isaiah Arriaza (pass failed)
Baseline League Scores:
Upland 45, Chino Hills 21
RCHS 36, Damien 35
** Etiwanda had a week-nine bye
Baseline League Standings:
RCHS (9-0, 3-0)
Damien (8-1, 2-1)
Upland (7-2, 2-1)
Chino Hills (5-5, 1-3)
Etiwanda (6-3, 0-3)
Week-10 Schedule:
RCHS at Upland
Damien at Etiwanda
** Chino Hills has played all 10 regular season games