Upland Leaves No Doubt in Winning Division II Title

A year after losing a championship game on a controversial fifth-down, Upland High rebounded the best way a team can.

The Highlanders rightfully claimed the Southern Section Division II championship and this time left no doubt in a 26-10 victory over Baseline League rival Chino on Friday night at Citrus College.

Quarterback Bo Drake passed for 225 yards and two touchdowns and led a 17-play, 99-yard fourth-quarter drive that sealed the victory for second-seeded Upland (13-1).

The clinching drive took seven and a half minutes off the clock and culminated with Drake scoring on a one-yard sneak with 4:46 remaining.

The Upland victory took a bit of the sting from last season’s title game when the Highlanders watched as Diamond Bar was awarded an extra down on its winning drive.

Last week in the semifinals, Upland knocked Diamond Bar out of the playoffs. Earlier this season, Upland defeated Chino, 33-7.

Upland running back Kaz Hill had 101 yards in 23 carries and scored on a two-yard touchdown for the Highlanders, a drive that was set up by a fumble deep in Upland territory by Gabe Rivera.

Chino (12-2), which won a section championship in 1997 and was a finalist in 1998, was led by quarterback Greg Coleman, who passed for 168 yards and had a one-yard touchdown run, but threw two interceptions.

Hart 34, Mira Costa 11--Quarterback Kyle Matter completed 27 of 31 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns as the Indians (12-2) defeated the Mustangs (12-2) at College of the Canyons to win the Division III championship.

Hart won its third consecutive championship and its fourth in six years.

At one point, Matter completed 10 in a row. At another, it was 12 in a row.

“For a championship game, that was an unbelievable performance,” Hart offensive coordinator Dean Herrington said.

But this was far more than a coronation for Matter.

It was a school-record third championship ring for lineman Peter Dubsky. It was the spotlight for possession receiver Jake Norton, who caught eight passes for 103 yards.

It was a rare chance to shine for little running back Mickey Mercado, almost forgotten in a run-and-shoot offense, who stepped forward to gain 106 yards in eight carries and score on a 48-yard sweep to finish a 20-0 run that started with Hart clinging to a 14-11 lead.

And each can claim they were a part of the school’s 350th victory, including 12 consecutive in the playoffs and 26 consecutive victories at home, dating to 1997.

“There is nothing like this feeling in the world,” said linebacker Kyle Hollis, who spearheaded a defense that limited Mira Costa (12-2) to 289 yards, 94 in the second half. “This is the greatest.”

Everybody got in the act, for Hart, which gained 531 yards in winning its ninth consecutive game.

The maligned offensive line of Chris Frome, Jose Flores, Chris Piligian, Mike Brady and Jordan Biby had their best game, allowing Matter all the time he wanted.

Linebackers Hollis, Josh Christensen and Travis Hetman and linemen Flores, Frome, Dubsky and Evan Allen helped contain Michael Okwo, who came in with 1,701 yards but gained only 107 in 27 carries.