Overcoming a two-game losing streak, the Diamond Bar High School football team has built momentum leading up to league.
The Brahmas currently hold a 4-2 overall record after a 35-20 win on the road against Paloma Valley and an assertive 54-27 home victory against Baldwin Park during the Homecoming game.
Junior quarterback Quinton Mendoza led the charge for the Brahmas against Baldwin Park, completing 17 of 21 passes for 349 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. One of these touchdown passes connected to senior wide receiver Kai Jenkins, who recorded seven receptions for 134 yards and one score. The latter touchdown pass went to senior tight end Blaine Magee. The Brahmas also scored six rushing touchdowns, one each from senior running back Henry Liang, junior slotback Isaac Insuasti, senior fullback Nolan Porter, Mendoza and two from senior running back Jeremy Torres.
On the defensive end of the play, junior middle linebacker Matthew Galvan led the team with 12 total tackles, followed closely by senior outside linebacker Niko Macias’ nine. Jenkins also added an interception to top off Diamond Bar’s dominant performance against the Braves.
To prepare themselves for league play, the Brahmas have gone back to working on the fundamentals: making proper blocks and tackles. However, the team’s injury-ridden season has made their road to recovery more difficult than anticipated.
“Every game this year since Chino, we’ve had one starter out,” head coach Matthew Castaneda said. “More and more guys are out every single week, so we’re hoping that after this week into a bye and then into Nogales, we’ll be healthy.”
A rising star to keep an eye out for is junior defensive lineman Diego Suviate, who stepped up to fill the roles left by injured starters. He recorded six tackles and a sack against the Braves last Friday.
The Brahmas will face the Trabuco Hills Mustangs on the road this Friday followed by a break next week. They will begin league play against Nogales on Oct. 12 and look to retain possession of the Branding Iron in the highly anticipated matchup against Walnut, the crosstown rivals and defending CIF-SS Division 11 Champions, on Fri. Oct. 20.
