Covina Wins a Real Game of the Century

Covina High’s football team couldn’t have picked a better night to get revenge on an old rival from the Valle Vista League.

It was homecoming, and more than 1,000 alumni from as far back as the 1920s--including Robert Clifford, a member of the 1926 team--were on hand to be a part of Covina’s centennial year celebration.

And most of the 5,000 fans left Covina District Field happy as the Colts defeated South Hills, 24-6, wrapping up a festive week.

“One hundred years, that’s a lot of history here tonight,” Coach Darryl Thomas said. “We had [Clifford] come in and talk to the team before the game and say a few words. We had on our throwback jerseys on. It was a real special night for everybody.”

Special to the current players as well.

“It was a very fun game to play in,” quarterback Nick Covarrubias said. “There was a lot of hype all week and you can feel the intensity on the field. But we finally calmed down and started to play well.”

The victory was sweet for a few reasons for Covina.

When the two met last year, Covina came in with a 20-game winning streak, which was ended by South Hills. The table was turned somewhat Friday as Covina handed South Hills (5-1, 2-1) its first loss of the season. With the victory, Covina (5-1, 3-0) gains sole possession of first place in the Valle Vista League.

“We waited all year for this,” Thomas said. “They thumped us pretty good last year, so it was good to get one back.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Covina broke the game open with a 16-point second quarter.

The Colts got on the board on a 26-yard field goal by Jeremy Quinn. The score was set up after a 12-play drive got Covina to the Husky nine-yard line. But two penalties stalled the drive as the Colts had to settle for an early 3-0 lead.

Covina quickly scored again on its next possession after South Hills went three plays and out. Senior running back Arnold Harvey ran it in from 20 yards out.

Covarrubias connected with senior Gilbert Holguin for a four-yard touchdown pass 52 seconds before the half and the Colts never looked back.