See my post on Culver City & the Ocean League for details on the other Div. 11 quarterfinal game won by Culver.
The Covina Colts (10-2) hosted the Westminster Lions (9-3) at the beautiful Covina District Field facility. The Colts broke out on top and held a 28-0 lead until there were just 3 minutes left in the second quarter. The Lions had a serious hole to dig out of but started with a 14 yard TD pass at about 3 minutes before the half. The Lions pooch kicked and were able to recover the ball at the Covina 27 yard line. With about a minute left before the half, the Lions connected on a 14 yard TD pass to Joel Navarro to close the gap to 28-14 at the half.
With about 7 minutes left in the third quarter, the Lions crept even closer after a 5 yard TD run to make just 28-21 in favor of Covina. The score remained knotted there at 28-21 after 3 quarters. But with 11 minutes to play in the game Covina's QB Nin Burns was able to complete a 7 yard TD pass for a 35-21 lead.
The Colts kick left the Lions starting from their own 39. They were able to methodically move down the field and score on a 7 yard rushing TD with about 7 minutes left to play, closing to within 35-28. The Lions kicked off but did not use their pooch kick and the Colts ended up with the ball in the Lions territory at the Lion 46. With about 5 minutes left to play QB Burns II was able to complete a 40 yard pass play for a TD and a lead of 42-28.
The Lions got another chance to tighten the game but Covina's Anthony Ramirez intercepted a Lion pass and Covina had the ball on the Lion's 35 yard line with about 4 minutes left. The Colts were able to move to as close as the Lion's 17 yard line with about 3 minutes left. Then the Lions got another break on an interception by Lion Jose Diaz. But the Lions gave the gift back almost immediately when they fumbled and the Colts recovered at the Lion 45. Covina was able to control the ball and the clock in the final minutes before taking a knee in victory formation at the Lion's 5 yard line.
The Lions were a big bruising team but seemed to lack the speed to stay with the Colts. The Colts are led by a triumvirate of talented sophomores including QB Nin Burns II who was an incredible 24 of 27 for 309 yards & 3 TD's, with 2 interceptions. Burns also led the Colts ground game with 131 yards on 10 carries. Sophomore RB Erik Cuellar contributed another 71 yards on 17 carries as they amassed 215 yards on the ground.
The Colts got some senior help in the receiving corps with 10 catches for 114 yards from Tristan Sprague. Super speedy sophomore receiver Danny Urrea contributed 9 catches for 107 yards and was also a dangerous kick returner despite his roster size listing him at 5'4". Senior linebacker Ailaoa Tauvao was also very active for the Colts, intercepting a pass and leading the Colt defense in tackles.
The Rancho Mirage Rattlers (9-3) hosted the Arroyo Knights (11-1) of El Monte. The Rattlers were able to break out on top with a rushing TD & a fumble returned for a TD in the first quarter. With about 3 minutes left in the second quarter, Arroyo was able to post their first score with a 5 yard TD run by Daniel Mendoza. Arroyo kicked the ball to the Rattlers and Rancho had to start at their own 8 yard line and could not get much going. So they had to punt and Arroyo got the ball back at the Rattler 41 yard line with about 2 minutes left in the half. Arroyo junior QB Ernesto Camacho connected on a 25yd TD to Daniel Mendoza with under a minute left in the half and the two teams went into their respective locker rooms tied 14-14 at the half.
After a set of unsuccessful possessions for both teams to start the second half, the Rattlers, after stopping Arroyo on downs, took over at their own 30 at about the 8 minute mark of the third quarter. The Rattlers moved within the Arroyo 20 with about 4 minutes left in the third and they scored on a rushing TD with about 2 minutes left in the third quarter. The Rattlers managed to get inside the Arroyo 20 again with about 9 minutes left in the game, but missed a field goal.
Arroyo took the ball down the field and QB Camacho scored on a 1yd rushing TD with about 6 minutes left in the game. A good PAT tied it at 21-21. Neither team could score and the game went to overtime.
In Overtime, Rancho Mirage was able to score on a rushing TD but missed their extra point. It didn't matter as Arroyo was unable to score on their possession and the Rattlers advanced to the semi-finals in a 27-21 overtime victory. The Rattlers must face more Knights again as they will travel to Anaheim to face the Knights of Katella High (11-1)
The Katella Knights were on the road to face the Arcadia Apaches (8-4) in the Division 11 quarterfinals. This was another exciting game in Division 11, but I will just let you know that Arcadia led 35-14 with 9 minutes left in the third quarter before Katella came roaring back behind their QB Nathan Arrington and won in overtime, 41-35. See the article in the Pasadena Star News for details:
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2017/11/17/arcadia-football-falls-short-against-katella-in-ot/
It will be the passing of Katella vs the running of Rancho Mirage in this Division 11 CIFss semi-final in Anaheim.
The Covina Colts (10-2) hosted the Westminster Lions (9-3) at the beautiful Covina District Field facility. The Colts broke out on top and held a 28-0 lead until there were just 3 minutes left in the second quarter. The Lions had a serious hole to dig out of but started with a 14 yard TD pass at about 3 minutes before the half. The Lions pooch kicked and were able to recover the ball at the Covina 27 yard line. With about a minute left before the half, the Lions connected on a 14 yard TD pass to Joel Navarro to close the gap to 28-14 at the half.
With about 7 minutes left in the third quarter, the Lions crept even closer after a 5 yard TD run to make just 28-21 in favor of Covina. The score remained knotted there at 28-21 after 3 quarters. But with 11 minutes to play in the game Covina's QB Nin Burns was able to complete a 7 yard TD pass for a 35-21 lead.
The Colts kick left the Lions starting from their own 39. They were able to methodically move down the field and score on a 7 yard rushing TD with about 7 minutes left to play, closing to within 35-28. The Lions kicked off but did not use their pooch kick and the Colts ended up with the ball in the Lions territory at the Lion 46. With about 5 minutes left to play QB Burns II was able to complete a 40 yard pass play for a TD and a lead of 42-28.
The Lions got another chance to tighten the game but Covina's Anthony Ramirez intercepted a Lion pass and Covina had the ball on the Lion's 35 yard line with about 4 minutes left. The Colts were able to move to as close as the Lion's 17 yard line with about 3 minutes left. Then the Lions got another break on an interception by Lion Jose Diaz. But the Lions gave the gift back almost immediately when they fumbled and the Colts recovered at the Lion 45. Covina was able to control the ball and the clock in the final minutes before taking a knee in victory formation at the Lion's 5 yard line.
The Lions were a big bruising team but seemed to lack the speed to stay with the Colts. The Colts are led by a triumvirate of talented sophomores including QB Nin Burns II who was an incredible 24 of 27 for 309 yards & 3 TD's, with 2 interceptions. Burns also led the Colts ground game with 131 yards on 10 carries. Sophomore RB Erik Cuellar contributed another 71 yards on 17 carries as they amassed 215 yards on the ground.
The Colts got some senior help in the receiving corps with 10 catches for 114 yards from Tristan Sprague. Super speedy sophomore receiver Danny Urrea contributed 9 catches for 107 yards and was also a dangerous kick returner despite his roster size listing him at 5'4". Senior linebacker Ailaoa Tauvao was also very active for the Colts, intercepting a pass and leading the Colt defense in tackles.
The Rancho Mirage Rattlers (9-3) hosted the Arroyo Knights (11-1) of El Monte. The Rattlers were able to break out on top with a rushing TD & a fumble returned for a TD in the first quarter. With about 3 minutes left in the second quarter, Arroyo was able to post their first score with a 5 yard TD run by Daniel Mendoza. Arroyo kicked the ball to the Rattlers and Rancho had to start at their own 8 yard line and could not get much going. So they had to punt and Arroyo got the ball back at the Rattler 41 yard line with about 2 minutes left in the half. Arroyo junior QB Ernesto Camacho connected on a 25yd TD to Daniel Mendoza with under a minute left in the half and the two teams went into their respective locker rooms tied 14-14 at the half.
After a set of unsuccessful possessions for both teams to start the second half, the Rattlers, after stopping Arroyo on downs, took over at their own 30 at about the 8 minute mark of the third quarter. The Rattlers moved within the Arroyo 20 with about 4 minutes left in the third and they scored on a rushing TD with about 2 minutes left in the third quarter. The Rattlers managed to get inside the Arroyo 20 again with about 9 minutes left in the game, but missed a field goal.
Arroyo took the ball down the field and QB Camacho scored on a 1yd rushing TD with about 6 minutes left in the game. A good PAT tied it at 21-21. Neither team could score and the game went to overtime.
In Overtime, Rancho Mirage was able to score on a rushing TD but missed their extra point. It didn't matter as Arroyo was unable to score on their possession and the Rattlers advanced to the semi-finals in a 27-21 overtime victory. The Rattlers must face more Knights again as they will travel to Anaheim to face the Knights of Katella High (11-1)
The Katella Knights were on the road to face the Arcadia Apaches (8-4) in the Division 11 quarterfinals. This was another exciting game in Division 11, but I will just let you know that Arcadia led 35-14 with 9 minutes left in the third quarter before Katella came roaring back behind their QB Nathan Arrington and won in overtime, 41-35. See the article in the Pasadena Star News for details:
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2017/11/17/arcadia-football-falls-short-against-katella-in-ot/
It will be the passing of Katella vs the running of Rancho Mirage in this Division 11 CIFss semi-final in Anaheim.
Last edited:
