Bonita Dominates San Dimas, Awaits Western-Brea Winner

Thirty years after its last championship game appearance and four years removed from a humiliating 1-9 season, Bonita High’s football team continued its resurrection Friday night by disposing of intradistrict rival San Dimas, 41-7, before an estimated 4,500 at Citrus College.

The Southern Section Division IX semifinal victory moved Bonita (13-0) back into its long-awaited title game Friday against the winner of tonight’s Brea Olinda-Western game.

“To be here, at 13-0, four years later, that’s a tremendous accomplishment,” Bonita Coach Larry Hatley said. “It shows you what kind of kids we have here. They believe in themselves and they’ve got that killer instinct now. They’re going to be tough to beat.”

No one knows that better than San Dimas (9-4), which shut out five opponents during the regular season and gave up only 16 points in its first two playoff victories but was routed for a second time in four weeks by the Valle Vista League champion Bearcats. On Nov. 12, Bonita defeated the host Saints, 30-0.

“Obviously, you try to attack weaknesses,” San Dimas Coach Ted Clarke said. “That’s tough to do with them. They have so many strengths.”

Junior running back DeAndre Belin carried the ball 26 times for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Zach Bussey booted field goals of 30 and 42 yards, caught three passes for 60 yards and also returned the second-half kickoff 44 yards to set in motion a final 24 minutes entirely controlled by Bonita.