There's something Hokie about Ayala football
Granted, I've only seen Ayala play once during its resurgence from 0-10 in 2006 to a 7-4 playoff team in 2007. (It's 3-1 in 2008)
Granted, that time was two weeks ago. So, take this for what it's worth: I'm ready to label them the Virginia Tech of the Inland Empire.
I'm sure the Ayala offense of last season was much different with QB Matt Baca - widely regarded as a D-I caliber player before settling on DI-AA Northern Colorado - than with junior Dylan Lada quarterbacking the variation of the wing-T. In Ayala's 26-21 win over Alta Loma Friday, there wasn't much varation - it looked like a plain ole' wing-T (Lada completed 2 passes, the one for positive yardage was an 84-yard swing pass for a TD).
But the Bulldogs rode to victory something reminicent of the Beamer ball that has developed a reputation in Blacksburg, Va. They blocked two kicks, returning one for a score Alta Loma coach John Kuleika termed the difference in the game.
Courtney Samuel's 28-yard blocked punt return for a TD gave Ayala a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. The Bulldogs nearly took a blocked 50-yard field goal attempt to the house but David Quiroga couldn't get a handle on the bouncing ball with nobody in between him and the Alta Loma goaline as time expired on the first half.
Of course, a Beamer ball reputation isn't developed in one showing.
Ayala blocked the potential game-winning field goal with 32 seconds to play in its 19-10 win over crosstown rival Chino Hills last season and Derek Brandon returned it 69 yards for a game-sealing touchdown.
One game prior, an onside kick recovery aided a 19-point comeback in a 34-33 win over Damien last season that included 14 points in the final 27 seconds.
Having been to just one game in the last season and-a-half, I'm sure there are more than a few examples I'm missing here. But even I know enough to have spotted a trend.