San Dimas Football Falls to Valley Christian in Semifinals

An impressive playoff journey for the young San Dimas football team concluded on December 1, 2023, as they were defeated by Cerritos Valley Christian, 28-12, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 9 semifinals. Valley Christian’s strong performance in the second half propelled them to victory, allowing them to advance to the division championship against Ramona, who triumphed over Hesperia with a score of 40-13.

Despite the loss, San Dimas (7-6) can take pride in their season, finishing with two playoff wins. This marks the ninth time in the last ten years that the Saints have secured at least one playoff victory. Head coach Mark Holman acknowledged Valley Christian’s skill but expressed that his team did not perform at their best. “(Valley Christian) is good. But we didn’t give them our best game. Hats off to them, though. They showed up and we had a few miscues,” he stated.

In the game, junior running back Jacob Gallegos stood out as the focal point of the San Dimas offense. Following an impressive performance the previous week where he rushed for 248 yards, Gallegos amassed 137 yards on 26 carries against Valley Christian, scoring two touchdowns—one rushing and another on a 34-yard reception. Out of 39 offensive plays for San Dimas, he touched the ball on 28 occasions, showcasing his vital role in the team’s strategy.

“He just plays hard,” Holman noted about Gallegos. “You can put him anywhere. He’s a great young man to coach. You saw it tonight. He can catch the ball. He can run the ball. He can block. He does everything.” Gallegos himself felt the disappointment of the loss but recognized the team’s achievements. “It sucks to lose. But we did amazing. No one thought we’d make it all this way,” he remarked.

The game was tightly contested in the first half, with San Dimas trailing 14-12 at halftime. However, Valley Christian’s effective ball control offense and critical defensive stops in the fourth quarter allowed them to pull away. In the third quarter, the Defenders initiated a 13-play, 68-yard drive that consumed 7:23 of the clock. This drive concluded with quarterback Liam Sweeney connecting with Sean Bouma for a touchdown pass, extending their lead to 21-12.

San Dimas struggled to regain momentum, leading to a series of missed opportunities. Valley Christian then capitalized on a quick change of possession, scoring again with Sweeney passing to Bouma for a 33-yard touchdown, solidifying their advantage at 28-12 with just seven seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Saints attempted to respond, but Valley Christian’s defense proved too formidable, stopping San Dimas on two critical fourth-down plays in the final quarter. The first came when they halted Keenan Hoyt for a 3-yard loss on fourth-and-4 at the Defenders’ 43-yard line. The second stop occurred when they tackled Gallegos for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-2 at the same location, effectively sealing the game.

San Dimas relied heavily on Gallegos in the first half, and he delivered with two significant plays. After an interception by Adam D’Amato at the San Dimas end zone, the Saints took over at their own 30-yard line. Gallegos scored the opening touchdown on a 53-yard sprint through the middle, giving San Dimas a brief lead of 6-0. He later caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brandon Meredith, briefly giving the Saints a 12-7 lead before halftime.

Following the game, emotions ran high as players, coaches, and parents gathered on the field. For the seniors, this marked the end of their high school careers, but there was a sense of optimism for the future of the program. Holman emphasized the potential for the next season, highlighting that most players would return. “We were happy to be here. No one gave us any credit to be here. The future is definitely bright,” he stated.

Gallegos shared his enthusiasm for the team moving forward, saying, “I love this team. There’s so much more to come.” As the San Dimas Saints reflect on their season, they can look ahead to building on their successes in the years to come.