Baldwin Park, Nogales Meet in Division IV Title Game

The Southern Section Division IV championship football game between Nogales and Baldwin Park features two dynamic offensive attacks.

Nogales (12-0-1) relies on the running of junior Lamonte Adams and senior Lawrence Lanham as it enters its first championship game appearance.

Baldwin Park (11-2) is led by the passing of senior quarterback Marc Ruiz and a running game featuring senior Lawrence Phillips as it competes in its second consecutive championship game.

Picking a winner is not easy, but Baldwin Park Coach Tony Zane has no doubt about what will be the deciding factor Saturday night at Citrus College.

“It’s a matter of which defense helps its offense the most,” Zane said.

But how do you stop either offense?

Claremont tied Nogales, 7-7, in the season opener, which is the only blemish on the Nobles’ record.

Nogales defeated Baldwin Park, 35-14, in the fifth week of the season, won the Sierra League championship and advanced to the championship game with playoff victories over Whittier, J.W. North and El Rancho.

Adams has rushed for 1,640 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. Lanham has gained 1,220 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

“You can’t stop them,” Zane said of the two runners. “But you have to try and contain them and tackle effectively.”

Nogales will attempt to contain Ruiz and a receiving corps that includes Art Tejada, Dante Casillas and Rick Magdaleno, all of whom have more than 45 receptions. Ruiz, the starter last season when Baldwin Park lost to Arlington in the title game, has passed for 2,520 yards and 21 touchdowns this season.

The Braves have beaten Santa Fe, Glendora and Damien on their way to the title game.

“We have to get him (Ruiz) out of his offense,” said Nogales Coach Brian Beveridge, who won a Southern Section title at Northview in 1987. “If he’s allowed to stand back there and do his thing without disruption, we’ll have problems.”

Even if Nogales does chase Ruiz from the pocket, the Nobles still must deal with Phillips, who has gained 1,102 yards in 153 carries.

Beveridge said he has never been in a situation where his team played another twice in a season. But he knows that, historically, winning twice has been a difficult task.

Zane said his players will be motivated to avenge their earlier defeat.

“I think our kids will definitely be thinking about that,” he said. “But that only lasts the first few minutes of the ballgame. After that, you have to execute.”