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Bonita football grinds down Northview, then holds on for playoff victory – San Bernardino Sun

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Michael Lee #63 of Bonita goes after Aaron Guillen #0 of Northview. Bonita played Northview in the CIF-SS Division 5 first round game on Nov. 7, 2025 in La Vern CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

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COVINA — The Northview football team waited over two years for a rematch with Bonita after falling to the Bearcats 21-20 in the first round of 2023 CIF-Southern Section Playoffs.

In the long-awaited rubber match between two of the area’s best programs, Bonita came out on top 31-19 in Friday night’s CIF-SS Division 5 first-round playoff game.

The Bearcats (7-4) will host Loyola, a 17-14 winner over Newberry Park, for next week’s quarterfinal matchup.

“For us to be able to come out here and do what we did tonight … I’m just super proud,” Bonita coach Bo Beatty said. “The amount of things we’ve gone through this year … I’m proud, very proud.”

Bonita running back Sebastian Vasquez ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns in a performance to remember.

“Shoutout to my linemen, they did everything for me. My coaches prepared me for this and it was time to put on what I’ve been working for,” Vasquez said.

The Bearcats’ game plan was simple. They knew they had to slow down the high-octane Northview offense by any means necessary. And they did just that.

Northview ran only seven plays during the first half as Bonita dominated the time of possession. The Vikings were held to just 18 passing yards and 16 rushing yards in the first half.

Bonita established the run early. They leaned heavily on Vasquez to move the chains. He was effective nearly every time he touched the ball for the Bearcats on their opening drive.

Vasquez punched in a 6-yard touchdown to give Bonita a 7-0 lead with 4:58 left in the first quarter.

Northview put together a quick drive in response and moved the ball all the way down to Bonita’s 4-yard line, but Northview failed to punch it in when the Bearcats forced a turnover on downs with their backs up against their own goal line.

Bonita drove nearly the length of the field on the ensuing drive and took up the remaining 11:04 left in the second quarter, but settled for a field goal as time expired.

“That was an impressive statement drive that really set the tone for the whole night for us,” Beatty said.

The Vikings nearly forced a three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half, but an offside penalty gave Bonita a fresh set of downs.

A few plays later, quarterback Travis Lippert connected with Matt Milazzo for a 51-yard touchdown to give the Bearcats a commanding 17-0 lead.

Vasquez scored his second touchdown of the game before the end of the third quarter from 28 yards out as the Bearcats kept the points coming.

Trailing by 24 points entering the fourth quarter, Northview threw haymaker after haymaker as they tried to will themselves back into the game.

Robert Lucero threw for three touchdowns as the Vikings furiously rallied back to make it a 24-19 game, but it was too little, too late.

“I’m very proud,” said Northview coach Marcel Perez. “Our guys kept playing hard and made a run at the end, but came up a little short.”



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