Photos by Beth Oualline:
Bonita surprised a lot of SGV area football fans on Friday night.
The Bearcats limped into Covina District Field with a number of injuries, and they headed home with a 31-19 victory over a well-coached and talented Northview program in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 playoffs.
BHS took a 24-0 lead into the fourth quarter before the Vikings scored 19 consecutive points to pull to within 24-19.
However, Sebastian Vasquez’s third rushing TD of the night put the game on ice.
Bonita pulled off a Rio Hondo Prep, and they put together an 11-minute second-quarter drive that was capped by a 24-yard field goal from Nathan Fidone, and a 10-0 lead.
The BHS defense held NHS to less than 40 yards of total offense in the first quarter.
And they held the Vikings on downs at the Bonita 4-yard line.
Vasquez got the Bearcats on the board with a 6-yard TD run in the first quarter.
The Bearcats took a 17-0 lead in the third period when Travis Lippert hooked up with Matt Milazzo on a 51-yard TD run.
Vasquez rumbled in from 28 yards out and BHS held a 24-0 advantage.
But that’s when things got interesting.
Robert Lucero hit his brother, Isaiah Lucero, on a 35-yard scoring strike.
Lucero would then hit Manny Garcia on a 9-yard TD pass.
Both 2-point conversions failed, and the Vikings trailed 24-12.
Jaishon Bledsoe’s 17-yard TD reception and the extra point pulled Northview to within 24-19 of the Bearcats.
Unfortunately for NHS, Lippert completed a screen pass to Milazzo that went for 76 yards.
Vasquez would end any thoughts of a Vikings comeback with his 1-yard TD run and a 31-19 lead.
Jacob Maddox officially sealed the win with a pick of Robert Lucero.
The Bonita sophomore finished with 143 yards rushing on 30 carries and the three TD runs.
Fidone, who was called up from the JV squad, went 4-for-4 on extra-point attempts and 1-for-1 on field goals.
Isaiah Lucero had a monster final high school performance with nine receptions for 235 yards and the TD from his brother.
Up next: The Bearcats will host Loyola on Friday at 7.
The Cubs (5-6) edged their visitors from Newbury Park, 17-4, in their first-round game.
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Quotable:
Bonita co-head coach, Bo Beatty: “Travis Lippert is a warrior. He finds a way to impact the game as a leader no matter what. We went on an 11-minute drive, and we only kicked a field goal. But it was a statement drive. We were able to drain the play clock and run the ball. And then Travis was kind of unbelievable in the passes he made. He took what they were giving him, and he just made great choices. Sebastian Vazquez has stepped up in the absence of Joe Lara and ran with incredible fortitude. Jacob Maddox is one of the best kept secrets in the valley, and all he does is impact games. Northview’s Marcel Perez is an amazing coach, who gets more out of his players than anyone in the SGV.”
Northview coach, Marcel Perez: “I think Bonita was well prepared for this game. They are well coached, and they just executed when we didn’t. Coach Steve Bogan, Bo Beatty and their staff had Bonita ready. And we just got beat.”
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Box Score:
B: 7-3-14-7-(31)
N: 0-0-0-19-(19)
Scoring:
B: Sebastian Vasquez 6 run (Nathan Fidone kick)
B: Nathan Fidone 24 FG
B: Matt Milazzo 51 pass from Travis Lippert (Nathan Fidone kick)
B: Sebastian Vasquez 28 run (Nathan Fidone kick)
N: Isaiah Lucero 35 pass from Robert Lucero (2-point conversion failed)
N: Manny Garcia 9 pass from Robert Lucero (2-point conversion failed)
N: Jaishon Bledsoe 17 pass from Robert Lucero (Daniel Garcia kick)
B: Sebastian Vasquez 1 run (Nathan Fidone kick)
Records: Bonita (7-4); Northview (8-3)
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