Three games into the year, and the Diamond Bar High School football team has yet to win their first game, losing 35-0 against the Covina Colts.

The Brahmas also faced another kind of loss during the second quarter after  starting quarterback Dylan Karanickolas was thrown down  by a Colts defender and injured his toe.

According to head coach Kevin Argumosa, Karanickolas suffered turf toe, which strains the ligaments and muscles in the big toe. Karanickolas tried to return before  halftime, but the coaching staff didn’t want to take further risks.

DB’s defense started strong, forcing a turnover on downs on their 23 in Covina’s first drive.

However, DB’s offense was not able to take advantage, punting on its 31 with 4:26 in the first quarter. With this possession, the Colts scored the first touchdown of the game and gained the extra point, leading 7-0.

In their second drive, the Brahmas were again forced to punt, but a botched snap was recovered by Covina on DB’s 12. Already in the redzone, the Colts extended the lead with a 3-yard touchdown pass and another PAT.

Down 14-0 with less than nine minutes in the half, the Brahmas looked to cut the lead before the half, marching all the way to the Colts’ 22. But, a sack and fumble lost DB the possession and any momentum they built up.

Again, Covina scored with a 15-yard TD, stretching the lead, 21-0. The Brahmas tried to score to end the half, but a turnover on downs ended that drive. With a little over a minute, the Colts scored a 25-yard touchdown and took a 28-0 lead.  On the final drive of the half, the Brahmas made a push, but Karanickolas was injured on this drive, forcing to kneel.

Junior Darryn Onsing replaced Karanickolas for the rest of the game. In the third quarter, neither team was able to score as teams traded turnovers.

When the fourth started, however, Covina scored the final touchdown and extra point of the game, putting them up 35-0. Both teams traded fumbles for the rest of the game, and the Colts ran out the clock after recovering the last turnover of the game.

Next week, DB will take on Brea Olinda, and the following week, they will end the preseason against San Dimas. Argumosa hopes that in the two weeks, the Brahmas can correct  their errors.

“We can’t make those little mistakes. It’s still banging us around, just jumping offsides or not lining up correctly, not knowing the offensive plays. We have to tune that up so that we can get better.”