REV football advances; ACA in section title match, Gavin Pachot passes, and more

Last week I trekked to Allen, Texas and missed a full slate of Citrus Belt League football games.

It was not a wildly successful trio of football games for Redlands Unified teams. Redlands East Valley High fell to Beaumont 43-6, Citrus Valley lost to Cajon 57-17, and Redlands was defeated by Yucaipa 44-6.

Also, Arrowhead Christian Academy fell to Big Bear 42-21.

I left the Lone Star State too early to watch the Allen High Eagles host Boyd of McKinney at Allen’s $60,000,000 Eagle Stadium which holds 18,000 fans. Allen won 62-0.

GAVIN PACHOT PASSES

Gavin Pachot, who led the Redlands East Valley High football team to an upset win against Redlands High in the Smudge Pot game just two years ago, has passed away.

Pachot, 54, died of cancer on Wednesday.

Chris Chaddick got to know Pachot when Chaddick coached at Indian Springs and Pachot was at REV.

“Gumby, as many of us knew him, treated me well after we initially butted heads,” Chaddick said on social media. “When I got my first head coaching gig, he gave me tons of advice and encouragement.”

Regarding Pachot’s unique nickname, former Kaiser High football coach Billy Cardosi said, “I didn’t even know his name was Gavin until he sent me a friend request on Facebook and I said, ‘Who’s Gavin Pachot?’ And then someone told me, ‘Oh, that’s Gumby.’”

Besides his time at REV, Pachot was previously the coach at Rialto High. He later served as the offensive coordinator at San Gorgonio High, helping to lead the Spartans to the state title game in 2018 where they lost a close game to Rio Lindo High and running back Cam Skattebo (New York Giants). San Gorgonio won section and SoCal titles that season with Jordan Pachot (Gavin’s son) at quarterback. Jordan now plays at the University of Central Missouri.

Gavin was a star football player at Fontana High during the Steelers’ glory years under coach Dick Bruich and at Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

Said Joy Ramirez on social media, “I’m so thankful for every moment I got to spend helping him as a team parent, for all my kids learned from him, and for the time spent with his wife, who became more than a friend… she’s family. Rest peacefully, coach. Thank you for loving our kids like your own, for always showing up, and for leaving a mark that will never fade. You will forever be part of our family. Thank you for being “ALL IN” We will forever miss you!”

On a personal note, Pachot was always gracious in defeat. He complimented opposing teams and often took the blame when it wasn't necessary.

Visitation is on Saturday, November 15 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Montecito Memorial Park and Mortuary Valley View Chapel (3520 E Washington St, Colton, CA 92324). A funeral service is the same day from 10:00 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the same location.

BIG SECOND HALF LIFTS BULLDOGS OVER LA VERNE

Trailing by nine points at halftime, the University of Redlands football team outscored host La Verne by 24 points in the second half to win 29-14.

The Southern California Interscholastic Athletic Conference game was played on Saturday.

Redlands quarterback Tobey Schmidt passed for 160 yards and one touchdown.

Summit High of Fontana grad Mark Mitchell rushed for 97 yards and Luis Dejesus added 60 yards for Redlands.

Kev Markossian led all Bulldog receivers with 78 yards and Julian Walker added 44 yards and a touchdown.

Leading tacklers for the Bulldogs (6-2 overall, 4-2 SCIAC) were Skye Taylor and Enrique Ybanez with seven apiece and Jaylen Ephraim with six.

La Verne fell to 1-6, 1-5.

Redlands hosts Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 1 p.m. Saturday on Senior Day.

ARROWHEAD CHRISTIAN ADVANCES TO TITLE MATCH

The Arrowhead Christian Academy girls volleyball team is headed to the CIF-SS Division 6 title match after a 3-0 victory on Saturday night over Pacifica of Garden Grove. The scores were 25-13, 25-17, 25-12.

ACA (18-11) will host Wiseburn-Da Vinci of El Segundo (19-4) at 6 p.m. Saturday for the championship.

Said coach Brittney Amey on social media, “One of the biggest changes we made this year was simple but powerful --journaling and praying before every single practice and game. We made time for God in everything we did as a team. That doesn’t guarantee wins, but it does bring peace.”

The Eagles previously defeated Gabrieleno 3-1, South Hills 3-0, and Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary 3-2 in the playoffs.

ACA in 2022, under Amey, won its only section volleyball title and second girls section title in any sport by sweeping host Simi Valley 28-26, 26-24, 25-16 in the CIF-SS D6 title match.

TERRIER VOLLEYBALL FALLS; SOCAL REGIONAL NEXT

The 3-0 loss by Redlands High in the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 girls volleyball quarterfinals is not the end of the Terriers’ season.

By making the section D2 quarterfinals, Redlands has landed a berth in the CIF-State Southern California regionals which begin in less than two weeks.

NORCO FORFEITS IMPACT CBL TEAMS; REV TO HOST ST. MARGARET’S

Norco High forfeited six football games due to ineligible players.

The Cougars forfeited victories to Cajon, Citrus Valley, Colony, Etiwanda, Orange Vista, and Roosevelt.

These are the final CBL standings: Cajon 7-3, 5-0; Beaumont 8-2, 4-1; REV 6-4, 3-2; Citrus Valley 2-8, 2-3; Yucaipa 3-7, 1-4; Redlands 2-8, 0-5.

Cajon’s CBL title is its seventh.

Here are the CIF-SS playoff matchups for CBL teams:
D2: Beaumont (8-2) at San Clemente (6-4).
D4: Great Oak (7-3) at Cajon (8-2).
D10: St. Margaret's (6-4) at Redlands East Valley (6-4).

CHAU HELPS USF TO WIN

Citrus Valley High grad Lindsey Chau had a pair of assists in the University of San Francisco’s 4-1 women’s soccer victory against visiting University of San Diego on Saturday. This is Chau’s fourth year as a starter for USF.

WILDCATS, TERRIERS FALL SHORT

The Redlands East Valley boys water polo team lost 8-7 to Chino Hills in a CIF-SS D2 playoff opener.

The Wildcats finished 13-18 with a 4-1 record in the CBL, second only to Yucaipa.

Redlands High (19-13, 5-2) lost to Temple City 19-13 in a high-scoring D3 first-round game.

TERRIERS OPEN SECTION PLAY

Redlands High (15-4-1 overall, 10-0 league) won the Citrus Belt League girls tennis title, followed by Yucaipa (16-2, 8-2), Citrus Valley (10-5, 6-4), Cajon (9-10-1, 3-7), REV (4-10, 2-8), and Beaumont (5-13, 1-9).

Redlands opens CIF-SS D3 play at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Corona Santiago, while Yucaipa is at Campbell Hall.

HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCEMENTS

Redlands High has made its  Athletic Hall of Fame announcements.

The Terriers on January 23 will induct track and field and football star Walter Jones IV;  girls track and field athlete Margaux Jones; football, baseball, and track star Bruce Gibson; and football standout Dave Aranda who is now the head football coach at Baylor University.

Making the University of Redlands Hall of Fame and honored recently were former athletic director Jeff Martinez, along with golfer Trevor Young, swimmer Weldon Diggs, women’s basketball player Carroll Bertolacci, soccer player Ross Schunk, the 2011 men’s track and field team, and men’s basketball player Tristan Kirk. Kirk is a Redlands High graduate.

Reach John Murphy at berdooman@gmail.com and follow him at @PrepDawg2.