Brahmas end season with 0-5 record after loss against Glendora
Despite being on the opposite end of league standings, Diamond Bar High School’s football squad put up a solid fight against the Glendora Tartans in the final game of the year Friday. But, the Brahmas could not add a victory to their now 0-5 league record and left the field with a 25-10 loss, unable to tarnish the Tartans’ perfect season.
“We were playing a great team. We wanted the kids to go out here and have some fun,” head coach Marcus Hughes said.
After the opening kickoff, the Tartans quickly brought the ball to Diamond Bar’s 20-yard line and soon put the first six points of the game on the scoreboard, though missing the point after attempt. The Brahma’s first offensive drive took the majority of the quarter, as the Brahmas slowly marched up the field from Glendora’s 45-yard line to its 19. Toward the end of the quarter, the Brahmas were eventually forced to a punt that put the Tartans on their own 5-yard line.
The Tartans started the second quarter by overwhelming the Brahmas’ defense and advanced the ball across the field to Diamond Bar’s 4-yard line. After rushing another touchdown within the first three minutes, they failed on a two-point conversion, bringing the score to 12-0. On the next possession, the Brahmas managed their way into the red zone but turned the ball over on downs, allowing the Tartans to score another touchdown by completing a 13-yard pass. The half ended with Glendora leading by 19 and holding the Brahmas scoreless.
A minute into the third quarter, a fumble by the Brahmas turned out to be fatal when the Tartans’ recovery resulted in a rushing touchdown. With a score of 25-0, Glendora would not put any more points on the board and the game began to take on a new face.
The Brahmas started from their own 20-yard line and were able to continue a long drive down the field on several first downs secured by senior running backs Dimaggio Rico and Blake Goodman. With less than three minutes left in the quarter, Goodman ran for a 1-yard touchdown. Diamond Bar’s first and last touchdown was accompanied by an extra point scored by senior kicker Mohamad Abboushi.
Diamond Bar’s run did not seem to be over yet. The Brahmas soon regained possession of the ball on an onside punt by the Tartans, bringing the offense back to Glendora’s 34-yard line. Although the Tartans immediately intercepted the Brahmas’ pass, the Brahmas soon earned another opportunity to score with a fumble recovery on Glendora’s 26. Three downs later and with 45 seconds left in the quarter, senior kicker Anthony Vasquez earned the last points of the game with a successful field goal. Vasquez finished the season with three field goals and 20 PATs.
The final quarter was a fierce tug of war between the Brahmas and league champion Tartans, each team recovering multiple fumbles. But, the Brahmas’ point deficit was too large to amend, and the seniors’ last game ended in a loss.
“I thought my team was incredible and I love them to death. I just want to say I’m sorry I couldn’t finish for them,” said senior wide receiver Kyle Yada, who was taken out of the game in the second half due to an injury. Yada finished the season with 715 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Leading in rushing yards, Rico finished the season with 1000 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.
The Brahmas season ended with an overall record of 4-6.
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