http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Ul1Q1QSd4&feature=player_embedded

Foothillers upset Barons in first round – again

Grossmont came into a Division II first round game against Bonita Vista as the underdog for the second straight year. And for the second year in a row the twelfth-seed Foothillers pulled the upset, knocking off fifth-seed Bonita Vista 17-14 Friday night at Southwestern College.

“We loved being placed in the last seed,” said Grossmont defensive back Anthony Bowden. “It makes us strive harder and work harder.”

The Foothillers defense delivered the upset win by pitching a shutout in the second half. Grossmont (6-5) stopped Bonita Vista (7-4) three times in the fourth quarter, the last of which was a turnover on downs with 24 seconds left to seal the win.

“We just know we had to stop them,” Bowden said. “We did what we had to do – we did our job. Everybody just stepped up and did their job.”

Grossmont’s defense also helped the Foothillers take the decisive lead in the third quarter. On the opening drive of the second half, Grossmont defensive back Jonah Green picked off a Bonita Vista pass and less than a minute later quarterback Tyler Mutter found receiver Cody Sos for a 12-yard touchdown to put the Foothillers ahead.

“They were not going to be able to drive the field on us again,” said Grossmont coach Ron Murphy. “It was a field possession game – make them drive the field and they would not be able to drive on us.”

Both teams’ offenses shined early, with the first three drives of the game going for scores. Grossmont opened the scoring on the game’s opening drive, marching 49 yards capped by a Desean Waters one-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing drive, Bonita Vista answered with a 44-yard Bryan Montreuil touchdown run, and Grossmont added a field goal to take a 10-7 lead into the second quarter.

For the rest of the game, defense took over. Following a Bonita Vista fumble deep in Grossmont territory late in the second quarter, the Barons defense forced a bigger turnover. With 3:18 left, Bonita Vista defensive back Jonathon King intercepted Mutter and returned the pick 20 yards for a touchdown.

That play gave the host Barons a four-point lead going into halftime. But it was also their last score of the game.

“It wasn’t any magical adjustments,” Murphy said. “We knew they’d struggle throwing the ball. We told [our defense] to hang in there.”

Bonita Vista had plenty of chances in the second half. But each time the Grossmont defense was backed up, they responded simply by stuffing the Barons.

“We pumped each other up and told each other we need to make this play,” Bowden said. “We tell each other, ‘If we don’t make this play, the world’s going to end.’”

For Grossmont, the upset win means that their season is not done yet. That came as a relief to the players and coaches after the game.

“We’re just glad we’re playing another game of football,” Bowden said.

Next Friday, the Foothillers face fourth-seed Mission Hills (8-2), who had a bye this week. Bowden can’t wait for the quarterfinal matchup.

“They better watch out, because Grossmont is the real deal,” Bowden said. “We’re coming to play.”

A Grossmont defender flies in to sack Bonita Vista quarterback Patrick Schneemann