2026 Smudge Pot Game

Friday, September 11, 2026 – 7:00 at Mt Sac

Bonita Extends Smudge Pot Streak, Holds Off San Dimas 28-16

The 2026 Smudge Pot brought a familiar result, but a noticeably different feel. Bonita kept its grip on the rivalry with a 28-16 victory at Mt. SAC, extending its winning streak over San Dimas to eight games, yet the Saints showed signs that a new era under first-year head coach Dylan O’Leary may be taking shape.

O’Leary’s first Smudge Pot as San Dimas head coach carried extra meaning. The 25-year-old former Saints quarterback once played in the rivalry himself, and his return to lead the program drew praise from Bonita coach Steve Bogan before and after the game. According to 210 Prep Sports, Bogan opened his postgame comments by praising the San Dimas administration for hiring O’Leary, a notable gesture from the coach on the opposite sideline in one of the area’s most intense rivalries.

Bonita controlled the game early, building a 21-0 lead behind a series of explosive and opportunistic plays. Junior Matt Milazzo opened the scoring by returning an interception 83 yards for a touchdown, immediately giving the Bearcats momentum. Joseph Lara followed with touchdown runs of 3 yards and approximately 90 yards, helping Bonita take command before halftime.

Lara was one of Bonita’s biggest offensive stars despite seeing only limited action. 210 Prep Sports credited him with 100 yards on just three carries and two touchdowns before he sat out the second half because of knee swelling. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported the same three carries and two scores, but listed his rushing total at 90 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown run.

Milazzo made an impact on both sides of the ball. In addition to his interception return, he later threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Omari Sullivan on a trick play in the third quarter, pushing Bonita’s lead to 28-9. The play began with Sebastian Vasquez taking the direct snap before pitching the ball to Milazzo, who found Sullivan open downfield.

Bonita’s defense and special teams also produced several of the game’s most important plays. Trey Harvey blocked a San Dimas punt, recovered it at the Saints’ 7-yard line, and later added an interception. Levi Gregorich contributed two sacks and two forced fumbles, helping Bonita repeatedly disrupt San Dimas’ attempts to build momentum.

San Dimas, however, refused to let the game turn into a runaway.

After falling behind 21-0, the Saints answered with a 32-yard field goal from Matthew Witherby and an 8-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Kris Saris to Michael Baeza before halftime. Saris and Baeza connected again in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard touchdown, cutting Bonita’s lead to 28-16 with 9:40 remaining.

Saris delivered a strong performance in his first Smudge Pot as the Saints’ starting quarterback. The Tribune credited him with 16 completions in 31 attempts for 253 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while 210 Prep Sports listed him with 261 passing yards on the same 16-of-31 line.

His top targets also produced. Jacob Gallegos caught seven passes for more than 120 yards, while Baeza finished with five receptions, more than 79 yards and both San Dimas touchdowns. Again, the two reports varied slightly on the totals, with the Tribune listing Gallegos at 120 yards and Baeza at 79, while 210 Prep Sports credited them with 128 and 83 yards respectively.

The Saints had one final opportunity to make the game considerably tighter. With just over seven minutes remaining, San Dimas took possession at its own 23 and drove all the way to the Bonita 6. On fourth-and-goal, a pass intended for Liam Loyola was stopped just short of the goal line, ending a drive that could have made it a one-possession game with roughly five minutes left.

That late stand helped preserve Bonita’s eighth consecutive victory in the series.

Afterward, Bogan credited San Dimas for the challenge, saying the Saints “made us better tonight” and complimenting the job being done by O’Leary and his staff.

O’Leary, meanwhile, focused less on the result than on how his team responded. He acknowledged that San Dimas made “a lot of football mistakes,” but added that the Saints did not make “any culture mistakes,” a distinction he said made him proud of his players.

For Bonita, the victory featured contributions from across the roster. Milazzo supplied the early defensive touchdown and later threw one on offense. Lara produced two scores in only three carries. Harvey changed the game on special teams and in the secondary, while Gregorich created pressure throughout the night.

For San Dimas, the loss still provided signs of progress. Saris threw for more than 250 yards, Baeza scored twice, Gallegos topped 120 receiving yards, and the Saints remained within striking distance deep into the fourth quarter.

Bonita left Mt. SAC at 4-0 with the Smudge Pot still in hand. San Dimas fell to 3-1, but O’Leary’s first rivalry game offered evidence that the Saints may be closing the gap.