Smudge Pot 2019

Bonita Season Summary

Bonita finished the season 8-3 overall and 3 -2 in league finishing third in Palomares. The Bearcats lost in the first round of CIF against Highland 58 to 28.

• Smudge Pot Pre Game Article: “Bonita Football rolling as it gets ready for San Dimas in Saturdays Smudge Pot”

It takes an army to battle, it takes Bearcats to win. Coming together on a Saturday night to be the energy and spirit for their teams, students of all ages, family members, and community members join the two teams at Citrus College to fight to the finish. With the bands and students battling just as much as the players, this event brings out the best memories and laughs for all that participate. Winning isn’t easy if our school isn’t behind us fighting too.

Playing the most important game of the season, the big rivalry game, was an overwhelming success. Moment by moment, throw to throw we tasted victory once again. Defending the Smudge Pot, took heart and dedication from the players, coaches, trainers, and families. These sacrifices will forever be in the hearts of every player and student because the moment we dominated

Victory Tastes So SWEET

From the beginning to the end of the game these boys fought with all their might, mind, and strength. From the offensive line gaining yards and scoring touchdowns, to the defensive line shutting down the Saints in both run and pass plays, and getting a few picks as well, this team was unstoppable. With their work paying off the Smudge Pot stayed home where it belongs and on a placard goes another year that the Bonita Bearcats defeat those Saints.

John Langilotti, a football coach, strength and conditioning coach and a campus supervisor at Bonita high School lost his battle against pancreatic cancer on November 7th, 2019. Langilotti was beloved member of the Bonita community, a mentor and father figure to many of his players and students on campus.

Bonita mourns the passing of beloved assistant coach John Langilotti

By James Escarcega

In his book “The Mentor Leader,” Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy wrote, “Mentor Leadership is all about shaping, nurturing, empowering and growing. It’s all about relationships, integrity, and perpetual learning.”

For those inside the Bonita football program, those words would describe the impact that John Langilotti had on the Bearcats football program and at the school. Langilotti, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this season, lost his battle and passed away on Thursday evening.

Not only was he the strength-conditioning and linebacker coach for the football program, but he was also a year-round security guard. Those inside the program appropriately called him a “bigger than life” father figure. He played college football for the University of Tennessee. He became a trusted member of coach Steve Bogan’s inner circle – a place not many people get the fortune of entering.

He also played a crucial part in one of the most inspiring moments of the football season. In one of his final public appearances, he was in attendance for the team’s crucial Palomares League game against Glendora, watching from the press box.

“Life isn’t about who scores the most points; it’s about these moments when you’re forced to have perspective, a real eternal perspective about what’s significant and how you should live your life,” Bonita head coach Steve Bogan told reporter Fred Robledo. “… We’ll play on Friday doing everything we can to win a football game, but the real battle is with John, and he’s where our hearts and minds will be and where it should be as he fights this. He’s not alone; we’re all there for him.”

At halftime of the game, Chick-Fil-A sponsored a competition allowing one student from each school the opportunity to win 52 gift cards, which was called “Chick-Fil-A” for a year. Glendora soccer player Tiffany Gomez converted on a 35-yard field goal and then proceeded to walk up to the press box and donate the cards to Langilotti.

The event went viral on Twitter, and KNBC4 did a feature on Langilotti and Gomez.

BEST FRIDAY NIGHT VIDEO: At half of Glendora vs Bonita game, Chic-Fil-A held a kicking competition. This talented student from Glendora won a gift card, went to press box and gave it to Bonita coach John Langilotti, who is battling cancer. Impressive! @SGVNSports @latsondheimer pic.twitter.com/zY5VQwObKR

— James Escarcega 📈🏈🏀⚾️🥎 🤼🤽🏽‍♂️🏊🏼‍♀️🏌🏻⚽️ (@James_Escarcega) October 5, 2019

As the weeks passed since that game, those inside the Bonita program knew that things were not getting better for Langilotti. After the news of his passing was announced on Twitter, many former players, students and those in the area paid tribute to a coach who played a huge part in the lives he touched.

“So sad, prayers to him and his family,” said Brenda Fink, the mother of Matthew Fink, who played quarterback at Glendora and currently at USC.

“John will be missed, one of the good guys…” tweeted Bonita baseball coach Ryan Marcos.

“He didn’t lose; he just got to go home to paradise,” said Bonita history teacher Grant Guillen.

The Bearcats on Friday night were eliminated from the Division 9 playoffs with a 58-28 loss to Highland in a first-round game.

Leave it to Bogan, the poet laureate of the coaches in the east region of the valley, to put together fitting, final words about a man that he grew to love.

“His love and faith for and in the Lord gave him great peace on a very difficult journey. Gonna miss my friend,” he said.

So will those inside the Bonita community.

RIVALRY LIKE NO OTHER: Strong to the Finish, We are Proud Saints!

by El Santo, Yearbook Editors

A September night, where tensions were high in the spirit-filled Citrus College Stadium, was not any regular Saturday night. It was Smudge Pot, the biggest night for football in our town, and it was the only night for the Saints to fight for our baby, the Smudge Pot Trophy, to be back home. The Saints pride reigned over the stadium, but that is sadly all we had over the Bearcats. By the end of the night, the scoreboard revealed an upsetting loss of 35-25, but that did not mean our pride was defeated. We walked into the stadium with our heads held high and it showed in the first quarter, with the Saints leading 7-0 thanks to senior Billy Hennessy. The crowd was fired up and ready for the second quarter, but the Bearcats fought hard. We were losing hope, but the intense energy from the dance team, spirit line, and marching band gave the dungeon enough spirit to fight through the second half. Even though we put up a fight like no other, and the Smudge Pot isn’t back in our arms, we are still, and forever will be, proud Saints.

In the Dungeon Saints Pack the dungeon with high spirit and loud cheers

Traditions here at San Dimas High School are that we show pride like no other. and Smudge Pot is a time when students forget school worries and make the memories we know will be some of the best of our lives. Rain or shine, win or lose, we always pack the Dungeon with blue and gold and cheer our spirited hearts out.