COVINA – Undefeated Northview clinched at least a share of its fourth consecutive Valle Vista League title with a hard fought 34-17 win over West Covina at Covina District Field Thursday night.
The Vikings (9-0, 4-0) close out league play next Thursday at Baldwin Park and a win will leave them all alone at the top of the standings.
The Vikings trailed twice in the first half and appeared flat in front of the senior night crowd on hand.
“Every time we do the senior night thing, we have that problem,” Vikings coach Marcel Perez said. “It changes every dynamic you’re used to with all the emotions and things like that.”
Northview junior Isaiah Lucero had a big night with three touchdowns, scoring a variety of ways.
Lucero momentarily fumbled the opening kickoff before picking it up and going 98 yards for a touchdown to spark the Wildcats to a 6-0 lead after the missed extra point.
“I kinda knew when I dropped it there was an open slot on the left side,” Lucero said. “I just picked it up and took off to the end zone.”
Lucero also scored on a 14-yard end around and on a nine-yard pass from senior quarterback Erik Jimenez.
The Bulldogs (3-6, 1-3) have been riddled with injuries and were missing 12 players that had started during the season.
They didn’t let that bother the Bulldogs as they drove the ball 75-yards on nine plays, capped by sophomore Julian Rubio’s nine yard run and a 7-6 lead
“This might have been the hardest we’ve played all year from start to finish, “Bulldogs coach Mike Maggiore said. “Because of all our injuries we’re limited in the things we could do but, I’m very proud of these kids, they played hard and that’s all you can ask.”
The Vikings came right back to take a 13-7 lead on a 10-yard run by Keanu Tuavao with 1:30 left in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs retook the lead, 14-13 when running back Zander Requena scored on a 15-yard run with 6:30 left in the half.
Requena carried the ball 22 times for 126 yards, 106 of them in the first half.
“They did a great job (Requena) is a great runner,” Perez said. “Their line did a great job and coach Maggiore does a great job and they were ready for us tonight.”
That was the last lead for the Bulldogs as the Vikings moved ahead 20-14 on a 15-yard run by Tauvao, his 17th touchdown of the year.
Tauvao carried the ball 12 times for 97 yards to lead the Vikings rushing attack.
The Bulldogs drove to the Vikings 10-yard line with seven seconds left in the half. They tried one pass into the end zone and then settled for a 27-yard field goal by Isaiah Rodriguez to end the half down 20-17.
Jimenez, who broke his leg in the first game of last year’s playoffs, completed seven passes to Lucero, his favorite receiver, for 78 yards and a touchdown, the final score of the game.
“He’s talented,” Jimenez said. “I want to get the ball to my talented guys. I want a little payback for that broken leg last year and hopefully we can finish it off with a ring.”
