Defending CIF champs have nothing to worry about (yet)
Those who glanced at the score - Rancho Cucamonga 27, Damien 14 - were assuredly not struck with apprehension.
Those in attendance for Rancho Cucamonga High School's first game since winning the CIF-SS Central DIvision championship, may have thought otherwise.
I was at the game but I'm with the first group. Despite some concerning developments in their first game, the Cougars have everything in place to compete for a CIF title again.
Speaking of the concerns...34 seconds before the fourth quarter, the Cougars were a holding call away from trailing a Damien team that went 3-7 last season. With two minutes left in the first half, reigning Central Division offensive MVP Greg Watson was 0-for-4 with one more completion to Damien than his own team.
There are good reasons for these (a resurgent Damien team, for one).
While not overwhelmingly talented, Damien effectively played keep away from a Rancho Cucamonga offense that IS overwhelmingly talented. Damien had the ball for 19 of the first 20 plays and strung together drives of at least 11 plays three times in the first three quarters.
The Rancho passing game was clearly out of synch, but that will return with time. The talent is absolutely there.
Despite graduating two track-star receivers, Watson will have ample targets this season. USC-committed tight end Randall Telfer (whose only two catches were shovel passes, one of which went for a 33-yard TD) looks like a different person now that he's put on 20 pounds (AND he's somehow faster). At 6-foot-4, 230, he is flat out scary. James Zamarippa emerged as a viable option Friday night with two touchdown catches and 101 receiving yards, including a huge 87-yarder at the end of the first half.
But Rancho coach Nick Baiz professed the Cougars to be a running team - and they didn't have any problems in that department.
Michael Boyd (13 carries, 152 yards) was nothing short of spectacular. Watson (5 carries 76 yards TD) looked good running the zone read, scoring the game clinching TD in the process. The Cougars bad the ball so little that back-up running back Sateki Finau only carried once.
Damien running back Phillip Sainz, however, may have put on the most impressive show on the ground, piling up 153 yards on 27 carries. Coupled with a short passing game that caught fire in the second half, the Spartans successfully played keep away much longer than expected.
Head coach Greg Gano, who won four CIF titles at Hacienda Heights Los Altos, clearly has Damien headed in the right direction. But he was far from satisfied with a loss Friday night.
"We should have won that game," Gano said. "We had the go-ahead touchdown called back. I'm disappointed we didn't win that game. We were one play away."
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About Clay
Clay Fowler has been covering high school sports for six years in California and Texas. He was born in Dallas, attended the University of Texas and worked in Central Texas before joining the Daily Bulletin staff in 2006.
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I liked Coach Gano's comment about "we should have won that game". Sorry coach, but even if you wouldn't have had that holding call against you and the TD counted, the Cougars did score another touchdown after that call back. So you still would not have won that game.
It was an exciting game to watch. Damien fan's should be proud of the way they support their team. The visiting stands were filled with their energetic fans.