Glendora coach Brandon Rohrer thought the season was about to get away when it trailed Rancho Verde 13-0 during Friday’s CIF-SS Division 6 quarterfinals.
“Our defense was keeping us in it, we were in some bad spots, the game could have been 21-0 or 27-0,” Rohrer said.
Rohrer sensed a change was needed, so he opted to replace freshman quarterback Sebastian Lawrence with sophomore Brandon Coronado, and Coronado’s first throw was an 80 yard touchdown pass to Tim Johnson, sparking an incredible momentum switch.
Coronado finished the game, using his legs to rush for 80 yards and two scores while also passing for nearly 100 yards as the Tartans scored 31 unanswered points to beat Rancho Verde 31-13.
Glendora’s (8-4) reward is a home game in Friday’s semifinals against Dana Hills (10-2) at Citrus College. Dana Hills knocked off San Dimas 38-35 on a last minute field goal.
Brandon Coronado and his senior brother Austin Coronado, a linebacker/running back committed to Columbia University, both transferred to Glendora from Damien over the summer. Austin Coronado was the headliner and has been every part the impact on both sides of the ball that everyone expected.
Brandon Coronado lost out as the starting QB to Lawrence early in the season, but Brandon Coronado found his way on to the field in other roles to stay useful, but remained ready in case his number was called.
“He kept working at it,” Rohrer said of Brandon Coronado. “He gives us some mobility in the pocket, can make plays with his arms and his feet,” Rohrer said.
Will Brandon Coronado start on Friday?
“I think that’s the plan,” Rohrer said.
Glendora’s resurgence has the entire program feeling confident. This was a team that was hammered this season by Chino Hills, Northview, Bonita and Charter Oak.
But the football playoffs can change narratives quick, and the Tartans are proof of that.
If they win on Friday, they’re already guaranteed of hosting the championship tgame oo.
Rohrer said when things looked bleak, especially after the big losses to area teams, he stayed in their ear.
“We told our kids to continue to stay the course, continue to come to work, that we’re a good football team, and that our staff believed in them,” Rohrer said. “We’ve had some tough losses, and we were down 13-0, but our kids were resillient. We’ll go out and try to get another one (win) on Friday.”
SAN GABRIEL HOPING FOR REPEAT OF 2022
Adam Mascorro and Louie Navarro were freshman on San Gabriel’s CIF-SS Division 13 championship team in 2022, and now the two juniors, both two-way standouts, are hoping to lead them back.
Mascorro ran for three touchdowns and Navarro ran in for two scores during their 41-35 victory over Costa Mesa in the Division 14 quarterfinals, and now the Matadors will have a home game against Duarte (11-1) on Friday in the semifinals, with a chance to play for their second title in three seasons.
“This team is very similar to the 2022 team that found its groove late in the season,” said Matadors head coach Marcus Galvan, who was an assistant coach on the 2022 team. “We had over 250 yards rushing against Costa Mesa. Mascorro and Navarro have been big. They’re both linebackers too, but they’ve been in games like this.”
San Gabriel’s quarterbak Efren Torres broke his collarbone in their final league game, but Ricky Garcia has stepped in and has done a good job managing their offense.