Beaumont starts quickly, routs REV

REDLANDS – The Redlands East Valley High flag football team delivered Beaumont its only loss this season by a touchdown on Aug. 8 in a tournament game. That did not sit well with the Cougars.

Tuesday night defending Citrus Belt League champion Beaumont gained revenge, defeating REV 39-6 on Senior Night. The famed REV red light show was short-circuited until there were eight seconds left in the game. That’s when backup REV quarterback Leylii Christenson completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Charlotte Cox to get the Wildcats on the scoreboard.

Before that, it was all Cougars as Beaumont sophomore quarterback Tessa Martinez completed 33 passes of 38 attempts for 323 yards and six touchdowns, with one interception.

“She’s super prepared and did a great job and she just loves to play football,” Beaumont coach Frank Kingsley said.

Both teams now enter the CBL carousel which begins on Tuesday. Beaumont (16-1, 5-0) plays the winner between Redlands vs. Yucaipa at 6:30 p.m. at Beaumont.

REV (14-6, 3-2) meets Citrus Valley at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cajon in the carousel. If the Wildcats win, they face Cajon at 6:30 p.m.

The finals are Oct. 14 at Citrus Valley.

Beaumont sophomore receiver Lillyana Nunez caught 15 passes for 95 yards including a tremendous grab of a Martinez pass in the end zone where Nunez outfought the defender for the ball.

“Lilly goes and gets the ball,” Kingsley said. “She’s a hard worker and is committed physically. She has strength and quickness.”

Also for Beaumont, Francheska Dizon caught five passes for 50 yards and Laylene Fontes caught eight passes for 38 yards and also passed for 21 yards.

Defensively, Kiera Houston plagued REV starting quarterback Cox with her strong pursuit on her way to making 10 tackles, including five QB sacks.

“She’s fun to watch,” Kingsley said. “She has 58 sacks for the season and is second or third in the nation in that. She has a high motor.”

It was a difficult night for REV which was celebrating Senior Night (running back Layla Robinson is the only senior) and the 15h birthday of Christenson, who was elevated from junior varsity to spell starting QB Cox on occasion.

“We seem to struggle at home,” REV coach Andrew Saibene said. “It seems like that’s the common denominator. A lot of stuff went wrong – so many penalties. I think they probably got more yards on penalties than we had on offense. It was just that type of night, unfortunately.

Christenson was a bright spot, passing for 59 yards and one TD.

“I felt good,” Christenson said. “I was kind of nervous but other than that I felt OK. I like being out there. (On the touchdown pass) I scrambled out to my right and I saw Charlotte open on the right and so I threw it hoping she would make the catch.”

Said Saibene of Christenson, “She made a couple of plays. She’s young and she’s still learning the game, but I have a lot of faith in her. She’s a young player on the rise.”

Christenson said Cox has helped her with her quarterback play. Cox threw for 124 yards but was intercepted three times.

Senior Rian Quiroz had two interceptions for Beaumont and Sophia Riopedre chipped in with one. Devynn Barbee had an interception for REV.

Despite the loss, Robinson said Senior Night was memorable.

“It felt so nice to have all my supporters out here,” she said. “They’re always rooting for me.”

Saibene said he is not a huge fan of the carousel, but that the Wildcats will be ready.

“It will be physically challenging, but I think we may still have a chance to compete for (the league title),” he said. “But I’m pretty sure we have to go undefeated, so we need to be locked in.”

CBL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS – Beaumont 15-1, 5-0; Cajon 13-2, 4-1; REV 14-6, 3-2; Citrus Valley 4-11, 1-4; Redlands 6-7, 1-4; Yucaipa 9-7, 1-4.