ATWATER -- Aziz Shittu was pleading with Buhach Colony offensive line coach Roger Johnson to let him play guard during the second half.
When tackle Aaron Cochran went down with a leg injury midway through the third quarter, Shittu finally got his chance.
The nationally recruited defensive lineman traded his No. 8 jersey for No. 77 and moved to guard. On his first play, the Thunder senior blew up a Del Campo defensive tackle to open a huge hole for Stefon Gold, who sprinted 44 yards for a touchdown to give BC a 14-7 lead.
Tyler Dew tacked on two fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Thunder pulled away late for a 28-7 win over Del Campo (8-4) in the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 Playoffs.
"I'm not trying to be useless during the game," Shittu said. "It wasn't just my block. It was a whole line play. If everybody didn't make their blocks, we don't score."
It was a hard-hitting, physical game from the opening whistle. However, it ended in ugly fashion when both coaching staffs had to be separated after the game after a shouting match.
Del Campo was upset after Buhach Colony attempted an onside kick after the final touchdown with just over a minute left and a 21-point lead.
"What the heck is wrong with that team? I've never seen adults act that inappropriate," said Thunder coach Kevin Swartwood, whose team improved to 12-0. "They had their fingers in our chest, telling us we've never won a section championship and they have. Saying we have no class because of the onside kick. There was one coach making a throat-slash gesture with his hand.
"That's the most classless school I've ever seen."
Swartwood said they only went for the onside kick after a Del Campo personal foul had moved the ball up to the 50-yard line on the kickoff with 1:17 to play in the game.
Del Campo head coach Mike Dimino not only had issue with the onside kick, but Buhach not taking a knee when Dew scored his touchdown.
"I've been coaching 20 years and never had an onside kick kicked against me like that with how much time left?" Dimino said. "We've won two section titles in the last four years. You've won 23 of your last 24 games. Kick it in the end zone."
Buhach Colony had no problem moving the ball most of the night.
Two turnovers and a failed fourth-down play kept BC's lead at 7-0 at the half.
The Thunder finished with 356 rushing yards. Gold led the way with 143 yards on 20 carries. Dew added 91 yards on six carries.
The Buhach defense held Del Campo to just 97 yards rushing after the Cougars racked up over 400 yards last week against Downey.
"Our defensive staff knew they were going to try to run the ball," Swartwood said. "If we could stop that they would have to pass and they're not a great passing team."
The Thunder will be at home next week in the semifinals against Vacaville.
Shawn Jansen is a Sun-Star sports reporter. He can be reached at sjansen@mercedsun-star.com.
E-Mail
Print
