San Dimas: 13 – Bonita: 0
Saturday October 15, 1977 at Mt. Sac 7:30 PM
The sixth “Smudge Pot Bowl” will long be remember by new San Dimas coach Don Warhurst. His team blanked Bonita, 13-0 for his first victory coaching in the prep ranks. ” I feel good about this one,’ said Warhurst following the game. “The kids were really ready for Bonita.” With the victory, San Dimas has a 5 -1 advantage in the Smudge Pot series. It has been a tough start to the season as both school’s had been winless in four tries this year.
“I didn’t give the players any speech before the game. I could tell that they were up for it. I said just one word ‘Bonita’ and that was it. They did the rest,” Warhurst recalled.
San Dimas scored first with 9:25 to go in the half, when senior Mike Nunley jumped on a Bonita fumble on their 38 yard line. Saint’s quarterback Von Suchanek did the rest, completing a 34 yard pass to Richard Morris. Running back Perry Aris finished the touchdown drive with a 1 yard drive up the middle into the end zone. Kicker Alfonso Gonzales connected on the extra point to give San Dimas the 7 – 0 lead. San Dimas almost score again but failed to reach the end zone on 3 tries from the 7 yard line. Bonita’s defense pushed the Saints back when quarterback Suchanek was sacked for a loss. The Saints (1-4) then failed on a 25 yard field goal attempt that sailed wide.
In the second half, Aris broke through on a 51 yard run. On the same drive Bonita gave up a costly pass inference penalty, and the Saints would score again on Suchanek’s 11 yard run. The Point After kick hit the upright and bounced back.
Aris gained 157 yards on 19 carries, as he led both teams in rushing. The Saints offense racked up 305 total yards. “Aris is a quality runner,” said Warhurst. “I wish we would open up the holes a little better to give him some more room and showcase him. I think he is one of the top runners in the league.”
Varsity Bearcats
Front: Bob Vidaure, Mario Grujeda, Steve Walker, Jerry Redman, Marty Vasquez, William Greene,
Row 2: Joe Mora, Henry Yepez, John Manzanarez, Ed Forbes, Maurice Galves, Robert Clark, Tommy Martinez,
Row 3: Richard Adams, Tony Estebo, Bill Rowe, Martin Schartau, Steve Johnson, Ronnie Wealand, Kevin Mulvey, Brian Bang, Mr. Horvath,
Row 4: Coach Lane, Mark Garcia, Steve Hackett. Ray Banker, Vincent, John Coach Larrabee, Tim Case, Mike Riggs, Barry Copland, Mike Sly, Richard Doyle, Ralph Ortega, Todd Marchese, Coach Urell, Back row: Mark Shamblin, John Gonzales, Bob Montz, Cory Miller, Jim Kelly, Ivan Deherrera, Tim Malone, Bob Garcia, Dave Pearson, Tom St. Clair<
The Bonita Bearcats had an extremely rough season, but there is more to football than just winning. Although their game losses numbered high, their gains surpassed these losses. Team captains Bob Vidaure and Mike Sly led the team to a feeling of camaraderie. Each member of the team enjoyed each other’s company on and off the field.
The Varsity football team learned about life and its hardships. Together, they developed a sense of responsibility to Bonita and to each other as players. Coach Lopez felt that they had a successful season: “We shared in love and despair. We also learned to en- joy each other’s company on and off the field and to enjoy the game for just the game. I feel the team learned more about the game and about life than any other team that may have gone to the championship. All in all the Bearcats grieved at the end of the season.
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Varsity Saints
Front: Steve Walther, Darrell McBrier, Walther, Dan Lee, Bret Hafner, Dann Singleton, Brian Burke, Jaime Corrales, Chris Hearn, Pierre Rodriguez, Marv Cronk, Alfonso Gonzalez, Tom Dawson, Ken Duran, Ray Villasenor
Row 2: John Alexander, Mike Decker, Tom Burkhard, Gerald Croil, Wayne Hackelton ton, Rich Morris, Perry Aris, Mike Richards, Tom Lloyd, Dean Shipcott, Dave Pena, Tom Ruffin, Von Suchanek
Back: Rick Vanden Bossche, Sam Ybarra, Randy Risner, Larry Unrien, Jay Brown, Jim Leonard, Roger Garrison, Mike Nunley, Scott Swegler, Jeff Gaines, Gregg Thurman, Curt Viggers, Jim Curry
A Rebuilding Year
A rebuilding year it was. The team was stripped of almost every starting position, except two. With new head coach, Don Warhurst, the staff had to start from scratch to compose this team. Next year the coach and his staff will have a much easier task of developing a league contending team with 23 varsity returning lettermen.
Players Stand Out
Players for the Saints receiving honors this year were: First Team Defense Linebacker Mike Nunley; 2nd Team Offense Quarterback Von Suchanek, Receiver Tom Lloyd, Honorable Mention Larry Unrien and Dan Lee. Larry and Dan will be big factors in next year’s success along with other players who will step into starting roles.
Winning Together Losing Together
The highlight of the season and by far the most exciting game was Bonita. The team was really up for this one and came through with a 13-0 shutout to mark the fifth time we have beaten our arch – rivals. Overall, the year was progressive and the games provided fun for the players and spectators alike.
San Dimas hired former Assistant Coach, Don G Warhurst to be the new head coach for the Saint’s football team. Warhurst is the eldest son of Cal Poly athletic director Donald E. Warhurst. The new coach was a standout athlete at Cal Poly Pomona in the mid 1960’s and was the school’s Athlete of the Year. He graduated from Cal Poly in 1969, assisted at Nogales High for one season, and then join Bob Baiz’ staff at San Dimas in 1971 when the school first opened.
“I’m just tickled pink to get the head coaching job at San Dimas, ” Warhurst said. “Being a head coach is something I’ve wanted a long time. I’m really pleased that it worked out so that I could stay at San Dimas and get the varsity position as well”.
Former Coach Bob Biaz stepped down to focus on his duties as Athletic Director at San Dimas (Biaz would later go on and Coach Claremont High to two CIF titles).
“I plan to run the team much like Bob did, although we will probably throw the football a bit more next fall,” Warhurst indicated. “We only have two starter back, and only six guys altogether, from last year’s championship team, so I’ve go my work cut out for me, that’s for sure.”
“At least having been at the school all this time, I know the kids and know what needs to be done to field a winning team. It will take a lot of work, but I’ve got a great group of assistants. That’s going to make things a lot easier.”
Smudge Pot Quotes
""I didn't give the players any speech before the game. I could tell that they were up for it. I said just one word: 'Bonita', and that was it. They did the rest.""
Don Warhurst Jr. | San Dimas Head Coach, 1977
