Second loss of season to Wildcats 40-20
September 17, 2016
After winning back-to-back games against rivals Walnut and Covina, the Brahmas were handed their second loss of the season, 40-20 at home against the Brea Olinda Wildcats.
In its first three possessions, Brea Olinda’s offense ran for touchdowns of 51, 54 and 82 yards, giving them 20 points before the Brahmas were able to put points on the board. Diamond Bar was never able to recover from the early deficit.
The Wildcats began their assault when, on a third and 18, their quarterback was able to escape a sack and ran for a 51-yard touchdown. After making the extra point, Brea pulled ahead with a quick 7-0 lead.
Once Brea was back on offense, senior running back Noah Rivera rushed for a 54-yard touchdown. A missed extra point would give Brea a 13-0 lead with 7:13 still left in the quarter.
After receiving the ball, the Brahmas earned multiple downs and even entered the red zone with a 13-yard carry by junior Kyle Rojas, putting DB into scoring position. A 10-yard catch by junior Shane Wells and a penalty on Brea moved DB onto the Wildcats’ 1-yard line. Yet, the Brahmas weren’t able to score, turning it over on downs.
With the ball back, Brea wasted no time to take advantage as they scored on the same drive with an 82-yard rushing TD, giving them a 20-0 lead in the second quarter.
Down by 20, the Brahmas showed they still weren’t out of the fight as they scored on their next drive with the aid of a 37-yard catch by Wells and a 2-yard rushing TD by senior Davion Bluitt. DB was down 20-7 but showed they were still in the game.
Brea added more pressure, however, as its next drive ended with a 3-yard rushing TD, putting DB in a 20 point hole again, 27-7.
With only a minute to go in the first half, the Brahmas made sure they didn’t waste their final drive of the half as the team was able to move the ball up the field by getting first downs from the running game of Bluitt and receptions by Wells. The drive ended in a 33-yard touchdown catch by Wells as he was falling to the ground, covered by two defenders, leading to a 27-14 end of the half.
Brea would start in the second half and finished its drive with a field goal, putting them up 30-14.
On their first drive of the half, the Brahmas were forced to punt to the Wildcats. Brea ended their second drive of the half with a 35-yard rushing TD, giving them a 37-14 lead with 5:45 left after converting the extra point.
Although DB was forced to punt, they would get the ball back on a turnover on downs on their 26.
DB’s next drive took them into the fourth quarter but it ended with a turnover on downs. With possession, the Wildcats turned it into a 25-yard field goal, giving them a 40-14 lead.
The Brahma’s drive after Brea’s field goal would be their final points of the game as Bluitt was able to haul in a 23-yard touchdown. A botched snap would lead to a failed extra point, finalizing the score of 40-20. The game ended up going back and forth on punts with a turnover on downs by DB in Brea’s red zone.
On Friday, the Brahmas will look to get back to their winning ways with a game at San Dimas.
