Smudge Pot 1976

Varsity Ties for Third

It was a tough year for the Bearcats. Plagued by injuries to key players they were unable to win consistently.

Bonita opened the season with a bang, defeating Claremont 31-7. However, the next game was against Azusa and it ended in a tie, 0-0. League play started and the disappointment began. The Bearcats never got rolling and finished in a three way tie for third with a 4 and 3 league record.

Individually the Bearcats had four players that made first team All-Hacienda League . Sanford Coggins, Mark Maloney, and Keith Brandt made it on offense and Danny Thompson for defense. Other players having a good season were Mark Kresch, and Gary Marchese on offense and Larry Larrabee on defense. Jim Franks received a special Coaches Award for his efforts before he was injured early in the sea- son. With many returning lettermen next year, the Bearcats should have a successful season.

We’re Number 1 . . . No Doubt About It

The season started off very optimistically and unlike precious years, it stayed optimistic. Excepting the one loss to Valencia, the regular season was unblemished. The Saints went on to win the Hacienda League title and were CIF Semi-finalists.

Indio was the first opponent. San Dimas won easily 55-13. The next opponent Northview was a bit tougher, but the Saints pulled through 26-19. Then on to semi-finals. The gas was in Antelope Valley in 28 degree weather. Since the weather at home had been over 70 degrees, the environment definitely was a factor. A lot of us went but San Dimas fell to finish the season 11-2-0.

CIF Here We Come

All League Selections were picked by the league coaches and 18 of our players were honored.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE: Tackle-Dave Garrison, Guards-Bob Tatalovich and Sonny LaFargue Running back-Robert Pleasant.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE: End-Mike Nunley, Linebacker-Doug Gates , Guard-Sonny LaFarque Safety-Perry Aris , Tackle-Keith Smith.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE: Center-Sean O’Brien Tackle-Steve Evans, Running backs-Perry Aris, Don Hargett, Tight End-Charlie Bradstreet,

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE: Tackle- John Selton, Cornerback-Steve Camp- bell, End-Tony Bertagna.

HONORABLE MENTION: End-John Veloz. Sonny LaFarque was name the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the Hacienda League. Special mention also goes to running back Fred Carter who until injured, was instrumental in early wins and had a 230 yd. game against Damien.

Rajahs Crushed By San Dimas In CIF

By Bob TROSTLER

In the CIF AA opening round playoff game between Indio and San Dimas at Bonita District Stadium the Saints rolled to a crushing 55-13 win, a dismal end to an otherwise stellar Rajah season. The game was all San Dimas, which came in ranked fourth with an 8-1 record and the Hacienda League title, as the Saints exploded for 472 yards rushing with their veer attack, including touchdown bursts of 46 and 72 yards, San Dimas will advance into the second round next week with a game against Northview which beat San Clemente 15-13, Friday night. By the way Coach Bob Baiz’s Saints performed Friday night, Northview is to be pitied. Sonny La Fargue set a club record with seven extra points and the home club scored touchdowns on its first five possessions to clinch the game by the half. But surprisingly at first, it appeared Indio, behind the running and passing of Nagata, would be able to stay with the bigger, more powerful foe. After Bobby Pleasant, who led the Saints’ ground assault with 209 yards in 19 carries, exploded for a 46yard TD run on the second

San Dimas scrimmage play, the Rajahs came back on a well-executed 87 -yard drive kept alive by a roughing the kicker penalty. Nagata set it up with a 25-yard pass to Tony Pedrosa, and tailback Rennie Romero got the final eight on an end run. The Saints came right back on an 11-play, 71-yard scoring effort climaxed by Pleasant’s 4-yard burst up the middle.

With Baiz’s ground-oriented offense using up large portions of the clock, Indio was forced to strike quickly but could not set up an effective counter attack due to the hard charging San Dimas defenders who penetrated almost at will to force Nagata out of the pocket. Although the Indio quarterback is used to scrambling, the Saints’ defense also showed surprising quickness in its pursuit and was able to drop the quarterback for losses, many occurring on third down. So the Rajahs punted, and San Dimas would gain possession and march goalward. The fifth touchdown of the first half was the crusher. Rajah end Jack Wilson fumbled on his own 11, and it appeared Arts ran 11 yards on the next play for the score. But a Saint player was cited for clipping and the ball was brought back to the 24. With time running out, Indio now had a chance to hold. But the defenders went for a fake to Pleasant, and quarterback Ed Hargett skirted around the left end for 19 easy yards as no one touched him until he was stopped at the four. Pleasant then scored again, and hopes for a comeback were dashed. To the Rajahs’ credit, they did not give up and came back to score in the third quarter on Nagata’s one-yard dive. Seventeen and 22-yard passes to Willis highlighted the 11-play, 86 yard march that cut the margin to 35-13. Indio Coach Ed Peasley, who led the Rajahs to the playoffs in his first year at the helm, praised Nagata and Willis for their outstanding play, but said his team’s ill-preparedness led to the lopsided margin. “I just wish they could have been a little more ready to play,” he remarked of his players while walking hurriedly to the bus that would take him and his team home. “Nagata and Willis fought the whole way, but you have to give San Dimas credit. They showed a lot of speed and are a very good football team. They are very comparable to Coachella Valley.” CV beat Indio, 29-13, last week. Peasley said his team’s early downfall was “an emotional thing,” and the Rajahs may have made the score closer but probably could not have won this day considering the Saints’ performance. “The turnovers killed us, too,” he admitted. “You can’t make as many mistakes as we made against a good football team and expect to win.” The coach was referring to Indio’s four lost fumbles, three of which led to scores including two in the fourth period that help pad the advantage.