San Bernardino, CA—With the clock ticking under 10 seconds to play, breaths were held on the field and in the visitor’s section at San Bernardino High. Colton was down 35-30, mounting what looked like a near impossible comeback against the hometown Cardinals.
With a combination of timely plays by quarterback Koa Regalado (29-50, 250 pass yards, 43 rush yards, 4 pass TD, 2 rush TD) and some desperation-fueled penalties by the Cardinals, Colton found themselves at the San Bernardino three-yard line.
Even though he had one timeout remaining, head coach Ray Rodriguez opted not to use it, giving the Cardinals little time to make adjustments, and putting all his trust in his freshman QB.
Regalado found receiver Alex Juarez (18 rec. yards, TD) all alone in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown catch, and Colton celebrated on the field.
The victory is Colton’s second of the season and second in a row.
“They have some dog in them,” coach Rodriguez said after the game about the comeback win. “I know they have it. They just got to show it. That’s all it was.”
From the opening drive it looked like this game would be a loss. The team lost five yards after a fumble recovery on their own 30-yard line. Then San Bernardino, behind senior running backs Henry Hernandez and Isaiah Lopez, took control of the game, scoring the first three touchdowns to go up 21-0.
The first half looked bleak for the Yellowjackets. Junior running back Damian Sanchez (29 total yards) sustained an injury in the second quarter, came back briefly and fumbled before leaving the game.
However, the team showed signs of life, with Regalado stepping up as a runner and getting the team’s first touchdown after the defense forced the Cardinals to turn the ball over on downs on their own 21-yard line. A two-minute drive to end the half looked promising, with San Bernardino picking up two passing interference penalties that put Colton in scoring position on the three-yard line. But Regalado missed on a pass to Isaiah Stuart, and Colton went into the half down 27-6.
After the half, the team came back strong and ready on both sides of the ball. The defense forced San Bernardino into six fumbles in the second half, recovering four of them. The first one, recovered by defensive lineman Murad Fakhouri, set the tone as he raced after the loose ball. Then, when linebacker Mateo Barboza recovered the second, the sideline buzzed with the anticipation of a special victory.
“I just needed to make a big play, and I made it,” said Barboza.
Meanwhile, Regalado, without Sanchez in the backfield, needed his receivers more than ever, and they stepped up. Senior James Gonzales (142 rec yards, 2 TD), back in the lineup after an injury, terrorized the Cardinal secondary in the third quarter, scorching them for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Riley Rogers (31 rec yards, TD) notched a touchdown early in the quarter, and Regalado ran for his second of the game.
For Gonzales, this was perhaps his best game in a Colton uniform. “I just flipped the switch,” he said. “It’s my senior year. I gotta take lead of the team. I want to go out having my senior year remembered.”
With Colton down 35-30 headed into the fourth, the two defenses went back and forth. Colton swarmed to recover the Cardinals final fumble late in the quarter.
This led to the final drive, when the Yellowjackets made their push from their own 23-yard line in under two minutes. San Bernardino struggled to maintain their composure, getting called for three penalties, including a face mask and a late hit, that cost them 50 yards and set the stage for Regalado’s game-winning touchdown pass to Juarez.
“We just went in there, nothing to lose,” said Regalado after the game about the team’s second half comeback. “I’m just playing like there’s nothing to lose. Defense did a hell of a job.”
Now 2-2, Colton stays on the road next week as they travel to Rosamond to face the Roadrunners.
Homecoming Game Update
Due to scheduling conflicts with the regularly scheduled CJUSD school board meeting on Thursday, Oct. 5, Colton has rescheduled its homecoming game for Friday, Oct. 20. The game against Arroyo Valley will follow the annual Homecoming parade and feature the Homecoming pageantry at halftime.
Skyline League Notes
Bloomington (4-0) defeated Citrus Hill (1-4) 32-14 on Friday night. This was Bloomington’s homecoming game. No stats have been shared for the game.
San Gorgonio (4-1) lost to Liberty (4-1) 48-7 on Friday. Quarterback Payton Clark threw for 135 yards, 1 TD and an interception in the loss. They were led in the backfield by running back Dillon Carolina, who ran for 48 yards on 13 carries.
Arroyo Valley (4-1) defeated Pacific (0-5) 52-8. No stats were available for this game.
Notre Dame (0-5) lost to Aquinas (2-3) 47-3. Aquinas was led by running backs Jusyis Solis (296 rush yards, 4 rush TD) and Champ Brown (153 rush yards, 2 rush TD) who combined for 489 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
