LA VERNE – Senior quarterback Travis Lippert threw two touchdown passes and running backs Sebastian Vasquez and Drew Apodaca each had a touchdown to lead Bonita to a convincing 33-10 victory over visiting Glendora on Thursday night.
“It was workmanlike, and we marched down the field with many-play drives and that’s what we like to see,” Bonita coach Steve Bogan said. “It’s week-to-week and it’s just fun to be in this arena.”
Bonita improved to 4-3 overall and 2-0 in the Sierra League.
Lippert, who played his second game back after an early season injury ankle injury, threw for a game-high 222 yards and was 17 of 21 passing.
“Every win is a good win, and we knew we couldn’t take (Glendora) lightly,” Lippert said. “We know that Glendora-Bonita is a pretty big rivalry around the community. It was a great win.”
Also with a big night was Bearcats senior receiver Jacob Maddox, who hauled in six receptions with 110 yards and a touchdown.
“That’s my guy,” said Lippert, of his longtime friend and receiver Maddox. “We literally think alike. We are always able to connect.”
Vasquez and Apodaca ran for 43 and 36 yards respectively.
Glendora (1-6, 0-2) was led by sophomore quarterback Sebastian Lawrence, who threw for 181 yards and a touchdown.
Lippert’s favorite target was sophomore tight end Aidan Yamazaki, who had six receptions for 106 yards and a TD.
Glendora was on an eight-play drive on its first possession, marching 42 yards to the Bonita 4. But Bonita defensive end Izik Rodriguez ended that threat with a 12-yard sack on fourth down.
Bonita scored on its first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, as Vasquez and Apodaca scored on 1-yard touchdown runs.
Vasquez’s touchdown run culminated a quick two-minute drive to give Bonita a 7-0 lead with 7:32 left in the opening quarter.
After a four and out by the Tartans, Bonita went on a short six-play scoring drive, which was highlighted by a 35-yard pass from Lippert to Maddox. Apodaca finished the drive with a touchdown.
“Me and Travis have been playing together for a longtime,” Maddox said. “We just got to go put it on the field. We were just clicking, but I know we have plenty of other guys that can make plays.”
Glendora went on a long, 15-play drive which started at the end of the first quarter and ended with a 22-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Nick Norell, to trail 14-3 with 9:29 to go in the half.
The drive was highlighted by a 25-yard pass from Lawrence to Yamazaki and a 12-yard reception by junior running back Nazir McGlothen.
A four-yard run by junior Johnny Jabbour gave the Tartans a first and goal at the Bonita 5,, but three incomplete passes led to the field goal.
Lippert’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Maddox extended the Bearcats’ lead to 20-3 at half.
Bonita junior kicker Adam Hodgson kicked the first of his two field goals midway through the third quarter to extend their lead to 23-3
Bonita took a 30-3 lead just two minutes later on a short Lippert pass to junior tight end Levi Gregorich, who snuck behind the defense and ran untouched for a 26-yard score.
Early in the fourth quarter the Tartans found the end zone on a 22-yard pass from Lawrence to Yamazaki to cut the Tartans’ lead to 20 points.
Hodgson added a 31-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.
