2023 Smudge Pot

In the annual Smudge Pot rivalry game, freshman quarterback Daniel Mielke confidently stepped into the spotlight for the Bonita Bearcats. With the towns of La Verne and San Dimas buzzing in anticipation, the young Bonita Quarterback had a lot to prove. Yet, by the end of the evening, Mielke tossed 13 of 21 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns in a convincing 28-0 shutout against San Dimas at Citrus College, signaling his impressive entry into this long-standing rivalry.

“It was a crazy environment,” Mielke said. “The whole town came out and watched. It was exciting and a really fun game. It’s a big deal in La Verne. I think the community we have around us is so great. It’s not surprising to see this many people. We’re just so thankful. It’s really awesome.”

Bonita’s five consecutive wins in the Smudge Pot have now tied the record set by former San Dimas coach Dean Bennett from 1989-1993. The victory also solidifies Bonita coach Steve Bogan’s unblemished 5-0 record against his Saint counterpart, Mark Holman.

San Dimas’ defense kept the game tight in the first half with the favored Bearcats only up by a touchdown. Mielke’s 43-yard TD pass to Jayden Montenegro marked the only score. But a halftime huddle with Coach Bogan, which involved watching some film and sage advice, changed the course for Mielke. The freshman QB confessed, “We watched some film and [Coach Bogan] told me to trust my reads… In the second half, I was calm, put trust in my guys and got them the ball.”

Trust, it seemed, was the key. The second half witnessed a more resolute Bearcats team. Mielke continued his stellar performance, connecting with Ryder Cadam for a 14-yard TD and Noah Mikhail for a 19-yard TD. Mikhail also contributed with a 10-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, sealing the deal for Bonita.

“I saw the ball coming and I thought I could make that catch,” Cadam said of his first Smudge Pot touchdown. “The guy in front of me didn’t see the ball so I knew I had this one. The ball hit my hands and I looked down and saw I was in the end zone and knew it was a touchdown.”

Though the Saints displayed resilience, their offense struggled against Bonita’s formidable defense. San Dimas managed only 6 first downs and 74 total yards from 37 carries and didn’t complete a single pass. 

“Defense played lights out the whole night,” Bogan said.

A few of the standouts for the Saints were running back, Caleb Morquecho (34) who rushed for 48 yards with runs of 13 and 10 yards in the fourth quarter. Defenseman Kingston Curtis had a highlight sack on Mielke late in the game. 

Reflecting on the intense rivalry, Coach Bogan commented on the community support, “This is one of the things both these communities get to do…these two schools have kept the rivalry going.”

The game was not just a test for Mielke but also held sentimental significance for players like Ryder Cadam, whose family legacy intertwines with the Smudge Pot’s history. “Both my brothers played in Smudge Pot games (for Bonita) and my dad too at San Dimas,” Cadam said. “This is the last one our family is playing in. Our family never lost one.” Senior Jayden Montenegro had a strong game for Bonita catching 5 passes for 86 and rushing for an additional 19 yards on 6 carries. Mikhail had another overall excellent game leading the team with 13 tackles in additional to his two touchdowns and 56 all purpose yards.

“We could’ve played better,” said San Dimas coach Mark Holman. “But (Bonita) is more poised. We shot ourselves in the foot a lot but Bonita is a really good football team.” Holman said we will bounce back and be ready for league play. “Short-term memory and move forward,” he said.