Citrus Valley starts fast but can't hang on vs. Etiwanda

REDLANDS – Citrus Valley High football coach Kurt Bruich couldn’t have scripted it any better.

Visiting Etiwanda High, in the night’s opening scene, prances onto the field full of swag and bluster, then does a first-half belly flop worthy of chubby catcher Mike Engelberg in the Bad News Bears.

But Citrus Valley’s fine play and good fortune did not last. Down by 13 points late in the first half, Etiwanda found its groove and scored touchdowns on four of its next five possessions to crush the Blackhawks, 35-13.

“We moved the ball on them in the first half and then we slowed down in the second half,” Blackhawk offensive lineman Preston Lauwers said. “I think the turning point was in the second half when they scored on the first drive to go up on us.”

Etiwanda also defeated Citrus Valley last season, 27-3.

Blackhawk quarterback Dominic Robles was brilliant in the first half, throwing, running and faking the Eagles almost into oblivion.

Robles’ pass to running back Justin Jolley put Citrus Valley on the cusp of a score. Then Robles zinged a 12-yard touchdown pass to Abraham Gonzalez in the left corner of the end zone for 7-0 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter.

Then Citrus Valley intercepted on the Etiwanda 24, setting up Ahris Mayorga for a 25-yard field goal to make it 10-0. Things were looking good for the black and gold.

Citrus Valley kept up the pressure.

Robles’ long run late in the first half put Citrus Valley on the Etiwanda 13. The drive stalled but Mayorga pumped another one through and suddenly the Eagle sideline was quiet. But not for long.

“It was a little shaky in the first half, but I’ve got a great offensive coordinator and a great defensive coordinator, and we made adjustments,” Etiwanda first-year coach Paul Unga said.

Jaleel Sutton’s long run with four minutes left in the first half put Etiwanda on the Blackhawk 19. That led to Jaden Lindsay’s 3-yard scoring run, cutting the Eagle deficit to 13-7.

Jake Leonard’s sack of Robles early in the third quarter got Etiwanda the ball back. Then Sutton took over, finally scoring on a 15-yard bolt.

The Eagles led 14-13 and never trailed again.

“I just stayed focused and trusted my offensive line,” Sutton said. “I made some mistakes in the first half (fumble, penalty) but then I just locked in.”

Said Bruich, “They bullied us up front – they’re huge.”

The Blackhawks began to fray at the seams. A Citrus Valley fumble led to quarterback Keegan Campuzano’s 45-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to Eagle receiver Chad Wakumatsu.

At least one Etiwanda school administrator thrust his arms into the sky to celebrate the score.

Ahead 20-13, Etiwanda sensed blood. An interception gave the Eagles the ball on the Blackhawk 30. That set up a Wakumatsu 4-yard TD run as the Eagles began to pull away.

“We’ve got a young defense and you’ve got to buckle up against them,” ‘Unga said. “In the second half they bent but didn’t break.”

On the opposite side of the field, Bruich had mixed feelings.

“In the first half I loved how we competed,” he said. “But then our heads got down in the second half. We did not battle adversity very well.”

Robles passed for 152 yards and rushed for 41 for the Blackhawks. He had one TD pass and one interception.

Jaymie Evans caught six passes for 81 yards and running back Justin Jolley caught four passes for 48 yards.

Ismael Gonzalez paced the Citrus Valley defense with 16 tackles and Anthony Saucedo added 12. Xavier Sanchez-Nava pounced on a fumble.

Citrus Valley is at La Quinta (1-0) at 7 p.m. on Friday. Etiwanda (2-0) is at Cajon (0-1) on Thursday at 7 p.m.