The 1980’s

San Dimas continued to dominate the Smudge Pot matchups in the 1980s, winning 6 of the big games against Bonita. The week before the big game always brought out school spirt.  The Smudge Pot rivalry was so intense in the early 1980s that there was discussion that the 1982 Smudge Pot would be the last game. The schools would be in different leagues the next year and the coaches from both schools were worried about how the emotions of the crowd would affect the outcome of the game. San Dimas Coach Don Warhurst asked the crowds to be calm and show good sportsmanship.

Bonita Coach, Dan Castanon, commented, “As far as I’m concerned, I have no objection to playing San Dimas this year or any other year. I understand there have been some crowd control problems in the past at the game, but that sort of stuff can happen anywhere to anybody.”

Bonita would win the 1980 and 1982 games behind a strong defensive effort. In 1980, Tom Stanfill led Bonita’s defense with 3 interceptions and recovered two fumbles in a 23-0 shutout. While in 1982, Bearcat linebacker Darryl Dean led a defense that shutout the Saints 14-0.

San Dimas secured their 11th Smudge Pot win over Bonita in the 1986 game with a 13-7 victory stopping a late game comeback by the Bearcats. At halftime of the 1986 Smudge Pot Bowl, Glenn Davis the legendary Bonita athlete, Heisman Trophy winner for Army, and professional running back for the Los Angeles Rams was honored with the renaming of the Bearcat Bowl to Glenn Davis Stadium. Also in 1986, tragically, Sam Bonanno, Bonita’s star running back collapsed on the field and later passed away at a hospital.

In 1987, Bonita and San Dimas ended the game 14-14, making it the only tie in the history of the rivalry game. Though the two teams were closely matched, Bonita coach Thom Young was unhappy with the refereeing and believed there were some poorly called plays that cost Bonita the game. In a pivotal play late in the game, Bonita running back Richard Pratt was due for an apparent first down at the Saints 36 yard line. However, the referees called Pratt short of the first which forced the change of possession and the eventual tie. Check out the posted game films for both the 86 and 87 games.

The Bearcats took home the trophy in 1988, with an exciting 31-21 victory over San Dimas. It was Bonita Coach Tom Martinez’s first victory as a head coach. San Dimas had been undefeated in ’88 up until their game with the Bearcats. San Dimas took an early lead on a 76 yard touchdown run by Felix Badibanga (153 yards on 12 carries).

The turning point in the game was the 85 yard kickoff return by Bearcat, Richard Pratt. “I saw daylight . . . nobody touched me . . .”, said Pratt, who had a great game scoring twice and intercepting a pass.

In 1989 the Saints took home the Smudge Pot with the winning score of 28-21. Bonita and San Dimas were evenly matched the entire game with the game winning touchdown happening with only four minutes left. A jarring hit by the Saint’s Brian Petree caused a fumble in the end zone and Jon Reclusado was able to recover it. “I just thought to fall on it,” Reclusado said. “I just saw it and fell on it.”

San Dimas Head football coaches Don Warhurst (1977-1984) and Dean Bennett are tied for the most Smudge Pot wins (5) by a San Dimas coach. If you include Warhurst’s time as an assistant coach under Coach Biaz (1972-1976) he has 9 total wins.