RIVERSIDE — Koa Regalado will have bragging rights this holiday season.
Colton’s junior quarterback passed for 373 yards and six touchdowns in a 41-26 nonleague victory over his cousins and Arlington on Thursday night.
“I’ve been looking forward to playing them all season and we’re going to have some talks at the holidays now,” Regalado said. “I’m really excited to see them at Christmas because I’ll have a little present for them.”
Regalado completed 16 of 26 pass attempts and set new career-highs for passing yards and passing touchdowns as Colton (3-2 overall) compiled nearly 500 yards on offense.
“I want to say he broke the school single-game record for passing touchdowns but I’ll have to double-check that,” Colton coach Ray Rodriguez said. “He’s a stud. He does a great job.”
Senior receiver Kalvin Leon had eight catches for 157 yards and one touchdown for the Yellowjackets, and receivers Julian Gonzalez and Jonathan Quiroz each hauled in two touchdowns.
“We have great receivers all across the board,” Regalado said. “Our receivers put in work and if I have (373) yards then they have (373) yards. All I do is get them the ball.”
Senior running back Isaac Del Toro rushed for a career-high 181 yards on 26 carries, but Arlington (1-4) continued to give up big plays and touchdowns in bunches. The Lions are allowing 33.6 points per game.
“We’re really young on defense and we’re just rolling the dice, but when you don’t do your job any quarterback is going to come in and make you look bad,” Arlington coach Kevin Argumosa said. “It’s preseason for a reason.”
Facing third-and-19 on the game’s opening possession, Regalado went over the top to Quiroz for a 75-yard touchdown and an early lead.
“When we need it, (Regalado) makes plays but he always stays within the system,” Rodriguez said.
Colton senior defensive end Jordan Chairez sacked Arlington sophomore quarterback Daniel Rogers on fourth down, and Regalado moved the chains with a 13-yard run before slicing the defense with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Quiroz on a short slant route for a 14-0 lead.
Rogers got Arlington on the scoreboard with a 7-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter, but Regalado pushed the lead to 21-7 with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Gonzalez on Colton’s next possession and added to it just before halftime with a 15-yard touchdown completion to Gonzalez.
In their first matchup in more than 20 yards, Arlington outscored Colton 19-13 in the second half, but the Lions defense could not stop Regalado, who capped each of the Yellowjackets’ two possessions with passing touchdowns to Leon (37 yards) and Kevin Reynoso (17 yards).
Arlington’s Regalados — senior twins David and Daniel — combined to tackle their quarterback cousin in the third quarter while also posting stats on offense. David Regalado had three receptions for 38 yards, while Daniel Regalado had one carry for 8 yards.
Rogers added a second rushing touchdown and senior fullback Andrew Mendoza bullied his way to the end zone in the fourth quarter for Arlington, which added a 31-yard field goal from senior kicker Angel Santoyo. The Lions totaled 279 rushing yards.
