< The Latest 2025-10-18T06:39:47+0000
The Pasadena Star-News | Fri 10/17 11:39pm PST | John Honell
WEST COVINA — West Covina scored with 2:01 left and held on to knock off Baldwin Park 28-20 in a Valle Vista League game on Friday that kept the Bulldogs undefeated in league play.
The Bulldogs (6-2, 3-0) won their fourth consecutive game and clinched a spot in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs with the win.
They remain tied in with Northview (7-1, 3-0) atop the league standings and will have a shot at an outright league championship when they face the Vikings in the final game of the season in two weeks.
“All the coaches agree,” said first year Bulldogs coach Bai Kabba. “We’re in a tough league, you can’t take anyone lightly and we’re playing great teams right now.”
The Braves (4-4, 0-3) led 7-6 at the half as both teams struggled to overcome penalties and mistakes.
The Bulldogs drove 80-yards in seven plays, capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by Isaac Villescas to break a 20-20 tie with 2:01 left in the game. The Bulldogs added the two-point conversion when Josiah Joseph smashed into the end zone with a slight “Bush Push” from quarterback Elias Irvin for a 28-20 lead.
Villescas carried the ball 13 times for 105 yards to lead the Bulldogs ground game. Noah Davis added 95 yards, also on 13 carries.
“They complement each other,” Babba said of Villescas and Davis. “Isaac is a power runner but is deceivingly fast and Noah has really helped our running game.”
The Braves drove all the way to the Bulldogs 10-yard line hoping to pull even. But West Covina’s Isaiah Rodrigues, who kicked a last-second, game winning field goal last week to beat San Dimas, showed his two-way ability by intercepting a pass at their own three yardline to seal the game.
The Braves scored first, taking advantage of a bad snap from center that gave them the ball on the Bulldogs 14-yard line.
Two plays later, freshman Jacory Coleman ran five yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
The second half looked like it would be all Bulldogs as they scored on their first possession of the second half, a half-back option from Isaac Villescas to Mo Gogue.
Irvin passed for the two-point conversion.
“I like throwing the ball,” Villescas said. “Mo always finds a way to get open when I throw it.”
The Bulldogs went 60 yards in five plays on their next possession, a 15-yard run by Davis to give his team a 20-7 lead halfway through third quarter.
“Noah has really impressed us with his vision,” Babba said. “He’s made some phenomenal plays just with his running back vision and it’s really helped our running game.”
There was no quit in the Braves, they came right back to score on a five-yard run by Choyce Hampton.
The Bulldogs drove the ball to the Braves seven yard line, but the Braves defense held.
It took the Braves one play to tie the score, an 86-yard halfback option from Elvis Diaz to Donovan St. Cyr to tie the score with 6:29 left in the game, 20-20.
“We’ve been playing from behind a lot,” Babba said. “ We’ve got to keep putting together four quarters of football.”
The Bulldogs defense kept pressure on the Braves all night, Josiah Joseph had two sacks and was in on a third with Felipe Hernandez. Rodrigues had two interceptions.