What just happened here?

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Dominguez, the defending Southern Section Western Division champion and the No. 13 team in The Times’ top 25, got pushed around in a 44-14 loss to Redlands East Valley, The Times’ No. 16-ranked team, on Friday night at the University of Redlands.

A day later, the Dons (2-2) were still feeling it.

‘We haven’t gotten beaten up like that in a while,’ co-Coach Keith Donerson said. ‘We got beat up up front, and that hasn’t happened very often.’

Dominguez lost all but one starter on both the offensive and defensive lines from last year’s team, with only senior offensive guard/defensive end Kalolo Utu returning.

Although the lines are still comprised mostly of seniors, they are relatively inexperienced, and had a tough time against the Wildcats (3-0). Donerson, however, believes they will improve as the season wears on and still likes his team’s chances of not only making the playoffs, but doing well in them.

‘It was a big measuring stick for us,’ he said. ‘They’re a solid football team, and we had some problems against them, but we also did some things better than the week before. We told the kids they need to look at the long term, and this is going to help us on down the line, for sure.’

Judging from last year’s 28-21 victory over West Torrance in the Western Division championship game, that approach is the right one. And although the players and coaches didn’t like the loss to Redlands East Valley, they came out of it unhurt despite the physical nature of the game.

‘Just their hearts,’ Donerson said. ‘They’re a little bit broken-hearted, but that’s all. We’ll be all right.’

They’d better be.

The Dons, ranked No. 17 in the state by MaxPreps.com, will face another test when they play Loyola in a nonleague game Friday night at Dominguez.

- Lauren Peterson