San Dimas Football Falls to Valley Christian in Semifinals

An impressive playoff journey for the young San Dimas football team concluded on March 15, 2024, as they were defeated by Cerritos Valley Christian, 28-12, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 9 semifinals. The game, held at Valley Christian’s home field, showcased the Defenders’ strength in the second half, allowing them to advance to the championship against Ramona, who triumphed over Hesperia, 40-13, in the other semifinal matchup.

Despite the setback, San Dimas (7-6) can take pride in their performance this season, having secured two playoff victories. This marks the ninth time in the last ten seasons that the Saints have achieved at least one playoff win.

Mark Holman, head coach of San Dimas, acknowledged Valley Christian’s talent but emphasized his team’s shortcomings during the match. “They showed up and we had a few miscues,” Holman noted, reflecting on the challenges faced by his players.

Leading the Saints was junior running back Jacob Gallegos, who played a pivotal role in the offense. Following a standout performance last week, where he rushed for 248 yards, Gallegos accumulated 137 yards on 26 carries against Valley Christian, scoring two touchdowns. His contributions included a 34-yard touchdown reception, highlighting his versatility on the field. Out of 39 offensive plays, Gallegos was involved in 28, demonstrating his importance to the team’s strategy.

“He just plays hard,” Holman said of 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 expressed disappointment in the loss but recognized the team’s achievements. “It sucks to lose,” he admitted. “But we did amazing. No one thought we’d make it all this way.”

The match began with San Dimas taking an early lead. After an interception by Adam D’Amato, the Saints capitalized on the turnover. Gallegos sprinted through the middle for a 53-yard touchdown, giving San Dimas a 6-0 advantage. However, the extra point attempt failed.

Valley Christian responded with a touchdown of their own before Gallegos reclaimed the lead for the Saints with a 34-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Brandon Meredith just before halftime. Despite this, the Saints trailed 14-12 at the break.

The second half saw Valley Christian take control, starting with a 68-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown pass from quarterback Liam Sweeney to Sean Bouma. This scoring play extended the Defenders’ lead to 21-12. Following a three-and-out from San Dimas, Valley Christian quickly struck again, with Sweeney connecting with Bouma for a 33-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 28-12.

San Dimas faced significant challenges in the fourth quarter, struggling to advance the ball. Valley Christian’s defense proved formidable, stopping the Saints on crucial fourth-down attempts, including a pivotal play that saw Gallegos taken down for a loss.

After the game, emotions ran high as San Dimas 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 about the future.

“We were happy to be here,” Holman remarked. “No one gave us any credit to be here. The future is definitely bright. We have the majority of the team coming back next year, so I’m super excited about that.”

Gallegos echoed his coach’s sentiments, expressing pride in his teammates. “I love this team,” he said. “There’s so much more to come.”