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Great Oak football dismisses Cajon in Division 4 playoff opener – San Bernardino Sun

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Cajon quarterback Marcus Washington (3) is sacked by Great Oak defensive tackle Ky-mani Minnifield (80), bottom and Great Oak Josiah Robinson (54) in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 first-round football game in San Bernardino on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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SAN BERNARDINO — Using a loss from one month prior as motivation, the Great Oak football team extended its season with a 38-15 victory over Cajon in a CIF-SS Division 4 playoff opener on Friday night.

With little to show for its first two drives that ended as three-and-outs, Great Oak (8-3) found life following a 41-yard interception return from sophomore cornerback Anthony Clark, giving the Wolfpack their first trip to the red zone. Flipping a turnover into a quick score, the Great Oak offense found an immediate groove, scoring on its final four possessions of the first half.

Cajon (8-3) held tight in the opening half, and a roughing-the-passer penalty on a fourth-down attempt helped the Cowboys capitalize on their first red zone trip. Touted freshman quarterback Marcus Washington capped the 14-play, 7-minute drive with his ninth rushing touchdown of the season.

Holding a 27-15 lead at halftime, the message from Great Oak head coach Herschel Ramirez to his players was a reminder of a lost first-half lead from one month prior against Murrieta Mesa.

“You can’t forget what got you to this point,” Ramirez said. “You can’t go away from what got us to that particular lead at halftime. … I believe pain changes people.”

Neither team found offensive success to begin the second half, with the score holding into the fourth quarter before Great Oak struck again following turnovers from Cajon.

While threatening on its offensive side of the field, fumbles from Cajon on consecutive drives led to back-to-back scoring drives for Great Oak, which opened a 38-15 lead in the final three minutes. Another fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff secured the victory for the Wolfpack.

“A lot of (our leadership) is student led and it has to come from them,” Ramirez said, “and when they start wanting to play for each other that is what you see. They block, they tackle, they step up to the challenge, and I’m so proud of them.”

Cajon coach Nick Rogers credited Great Oak.

“Great Oak came out physical and did a heck of a job,” Rogers said. “We just have to be able to finish these things. We had a good opportunity and liked where we were, playoffs-wise, but didn’t execute. We have a young group and hopefully they all come back and get stronger in the weight room and get ready for (games like) this.”

Great Oak will look to secure its second straight trip to a CIF semifinal next Friday, when it takes on No. 13 seed Villa Park (7-4), which ended No. 4 seed Westlake’s unbeaten season with a 28-24 victory on Friday night.

“The biggest thing is they have a taste of what it is to play a 12th game in a season and to be grateful for it,” Ramirez said. “This doesn’t happen all the time … so you stay in your process. You keep your body healthy; you continue to keep your body strong by doing things you’ve done all season long and then hope the ball bounces in your direction and do the things you can control.”



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