San Dimas pulls it off, shocks undefeated Monrovia in the rematch, wins first title 12-7; Cats lose ninth straight championshp game

Game Story: Not until the driving rain storm stopped late in Saturday’s fourth quarter did San Dimas secure its grip on a CIF title that’s been slippery enough to evade Monrovia in nine trips to the championship game.

San Dimas coach Bill Zernickow
“We worked our butt of for it. Our kids played hard, we knew what was at stake and we learned a lot from the first game. Nobody said it could be done, but we showed a lot of effort. They (Monrovia) had a big monkey on their backs, I don’t know how that played into it, but I’m proud of our kids, they executed the game plan. We came out with the no huddle and made plays.”

Monrovia’s Nick Bueno
“They got way better. We couldn’t get it done tonight. It hurts, I don;t know what else to say.”

San Dimas’ Ryan Kohler with 108 yards, as four Saints had 60 or more yards rushing for 217 yards from scrimmage.
“We had to keep running hard, we couldn’t let up.They’re an awesome team, we had to keep playing hard, none of this was easy, it was a battle.”

Monrovia coach Ryan Maddox
They brought a great game plan, hats off to them, they beat us up front. They completely took us out of our offense. We struggled all night.”

Mid-Valley Division scoring updates
San Dimas 3 7 0 0 — 10
Monrovia 0 0 0 7 – 7
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
SD: Dillon Corona 35-yard field goal, 7:02
Second Quarter
SD: Jordan Taylor 27-yard touchdown (Corona kick)
Third quarter
No scoring
Fourth quarter
MO: Nick Bueno 11 run (kick good)
SD: Safety

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Back-to-Back for Charter Oak and a High Five for Big Lou, the Chargers win Southeast title again

By Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer
The drive for five sped into history without a glitch, proving once again that defense wins championships.
The smothering and physical dominance that the Charter Oak High School football team showed during four straight shutouts during the Miramonte League showed up again in the CIF-Southern Section Southeast Division championship game against league foe Diamond Ranch on Friday at Ayala High School.
Brandon Golden had two interceptions, and Dennis Rufus had another, and with running back Adam Muema providing the finishing touches with 177 yards and two touchdowns, Charter Oak won its first back-to-back championship in school history with a 21-0 victory over the Panthers.
“We started the season with a motto to make sure you keep your swag caps on,” said Golden, who also scored on a 41-yard touchdown run with 2:15 left to provide the exclamation point. “We started a little shaky in the first half, but our swag caps were tight in the second half. It’s history man, our coaches talked about it all year, making history at Charter Oak and we did it.”
For Chargers coach Lou Farrar, it was his fifth championship, making him second all-time in Valley history behind Los Altos’ Dwayne Despain.
The Chargers finished 13-1 and were 26-1-1 over two years as the Panthers finished 7-7 after winning six straight to reach the final. But it was the Panthers’ second straight defeat to the Chargers in the championship.
“Look, it’s been a decade of dominance with Charter Oak and they punctuated it tonight,” Panthers coach Roddy Layton said. “The way their coaching staff gets their players prepared for championships is a testament to Big Lou. I’m proud to say I coached against him, he’s moved on to legendary status.”
The Chargers’ defense hounded Panthers quarterback Gus Viramontes, sacking him five times as he finished just 6-of-14 for 94 yards and three interceptions. Running back Amari Staten finished with just 41 yards.
“Their defense played well, we couldn’t get anything going offensively,” Layton said. “If you put your defense on the field long enough a good team like that is going to score.”
Farrar soaked it all in during the moments that followed.
“Five and I’m alive,” Farrar said. “The kids were unbelievable. The coaching staff was unbelievable, that was a heck of a team over there and to get our fifth shutout against another Miramonte League team, I don’t know what to say. Give a lot of credit to Roger (Lehigh, defensive coordinator) and the kids, they really wanted to finish this strong and they did.”
The Chargers fumbled on their first possession at their own 32, but the Panthers couldn’t take advantage, missing on Jeff Stamps’ 56-yard field goal attempt with 7:44 left in the first quarter.
The lone points of the first half came on the Chargers’ 13-play, 60-yard drive that included two pass interference penalties, the second giving the Chargers a first down at the Panthers’ 12.
After Leon Youngblood’s 2-yard run and Golden’s 9-yard run to the one, Muema finished it, scoring from a yard out to give the Chargers a 7-0 lead as the first quarter expired.
It was more of the same in the second half.
After the fifth sack on Viramontes, the Chargers got going offensively behind Muema, who followed a 38-yard run with a pair of 11-yard runs to the Panthers’ 2-yard line. A couple plays later, Muema finished it, scoring on a one-yard touchdown, his second of the night, giving the Chargers a 14-0 lead with 11:11 left.
“It feels good to be part of history,” Muema said. “My line did an amazing job, it’s the best feeling ever. To be the first Charter Oak team to ever go back-to-back … I can’t think of a better way to finish my career.”
Muema simply wore the Panthers down in the second half.
“The kid is a horse, he’s a beast,” Farrar said. “He’s going to make somebody very happy next year playing on Saturday’s. I’m going to miss him, he’s the best back we ever had.”
Corner A.J. Powell made big play after big play, and thought about Monday’s banquet as he walked off the field.
“(UCLA coach Rick) Neuheisel said you’re going to remember this for the rest of your life, I know what he means now,” Powell said. “This is indescribable. I don’t have words for it.”

Southeast Championship
Scoring
Charter Oak 7 0 0 14 — 21
Diamond Ranch 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring Summary
CO: Adam Muema 1 run (Robert Poage kick), 0:00
CO: Muema 1 run (Poage kick), 11:11
CO: Brandon Golden 40 run (Poage kick), 2:17

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San Dimas’ Justin Winrow adds defensive swagger to Saints title chances on Saturday night

By Clay Fowler, Staff Writer
Juston Winrow’s demeanor provides the perfect cloak to the unbridled excitement that courses through the San Dimas High School tight end when a rare pass play is called.
“I try to act the same,” Winrow said, “so the defense doesn’t pick up on anything.”
For the senior, who is low-key to put it lightly, unbridled excitement isn’t too far down the list from, say, obvious apathy.
Until the snap of the football, that is.
To continue, click thread

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Thursday Roundup: Nothing settled in showdown as Los Altos and Bishop Amat girls soccer tie, 0-0

In Thursday’s boxscores, nothing was settled when the Tribune’s No. 1 hosted No. 4 Los Altos in a battle of unbeaten girls soccer teams already with tournament titles under the belts. Los Altos (6-0-1) and Bishop Amat (6-0-1) played to a nil-nil draw (0-0), and the Conquerors still have not allowed a goal this season. For all of Thursday’s boxscores, click thread

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Arroyo Boys Basketball tournament

FYI: I will post schedules and update tournaments if coaches or tournament directors give me the information. When I receive a schedule and updates from the West Covina girls and Covina girls basketball tourney, as well as the San Dimas boys tournament, I will post it like I did here for the Arroyo tournament. Again, all it takes is an email and scores…

52nd Arroyo Boys Basketball Invitational
Monday’s first-round
Top Bracket

La Canada 100, South El Monte 57
Keppel 55, West Covina 37
Montclair 64, Los Altos 57
Bishop Amat 76, Arcadia 61
Bottom Bracket
California 49, La Puente 46
Walnut 58, Bosco Tech 35
Wilson 51, Arroyo 40
Chino 45, Monrovia 38

Wednesday’s quarterfinals
At Arroyo High School
Top Bracket

La Canada 57, Keppel 50
Bishop Amat 59, Montclair 45
Bottom Bracket
Walnut 59, California 38
Chino 43, Wilson 37

Friday’s semifinals
Walnut vs. Chino, 5 p.m.
La Canada vs. Bishop Amat, 7:30 p.m.

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Mr. Winter, Gus Viramontes, leads Diamond Ranch to back-to-back comeback seasons

By Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer
There’s no way of knowing for certain, because the CIF-Southern Section history books don’t keep track of such things, but few would argue that Diamond Ranch High School’s 1-6 start in back-to-back seasons and subsequent appearances in championship games probably is the first time a team has fallen five games below .500 in consecutive years and played for a title each time. After losing in last year’s Southeast Division championship to Charter Oak, the Panthers (7-6), winners of six consecutive games, get another shot at the defending champion Chargers (12-1) in Friday’s Southeast championship at Ayala High School at 7:30 p.m. To continue reading, click thread

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Breaking News: Charter Oak and Diamond Ranch to meet at Ayala in Friday’s championship

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
Diamond Ranch High School surprised Charter Oak officials on Tuesday when it announced Friday’s CIF-Southern Section Southeast Division championship game will be played at Ayala High at 7:30 p.m. Charter Oak would have been more comfortable at Mt. San Antonio College, where the Chargers defeated the Panthers 30-14 last year. It’s also where they have won three of their four division titles and have a perfect 3-0 record.
To continue, click thread

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