Broncos' run stopped by Pumas' stalwart D

BECKY RADLIFF - For The Californian | Posted: Saturday, December 12, 2009 12:55 am

MURRIETA ---- Mitch Glasmann extended his body a few yards ---- only a few yards ---- and Vista Murrieta's sideline fell silent. Chaparral had converted its final and most dramatic first down of the night.

A 13-7 win and the CIF Southern Section Inland Division Championship belonged to Glasmann and the Pumas. For the first time all season, the 13-1 Broncos sideline felt defeated.

A few audible sighs could be heard. Broncos' head coach Coley Candaele slowly took off his headset and began to shake his assistants hands, talking in a quieter voice than he had all game, telling them things like: "good game" and "good job." He was not disappointed with his team and their effort, or his staff and their preparation ---- only that a loss marred the ending to an otherwise perfect season.

It was the Pumas' defense that gave Candaele ---- who is also the Broncos' offensive coordinator ---- and Vista Murrieta's previously prolific offensive unit the most trouble. Chaparral held Vista to 242 yards on offense, with only 42 of those coming on the ground.

"They lined up differently than they did against us the first time," Candaele said after the game. "They lined up tonight like they did against Centennial (in the Pumas' semifinal victory last week). We were expecting that, so we weren't surprised, they just did a much better job.

"They out-played us up front and when you can't run the football in a championship game, you're not going to win."

Vista quarterback Derrick Brown, who is the team's leading rusher and came in with 818 yards on the ground this season, was limited to only eight yards on nine carries. Brown did have the option to pass though, and totaled 200 yards on 13-of-29 passing, including a 43-yard touchdown off a screen pass to Benjamin Madison in the second quarter.

But that would be the Broncos only trip past the goal line.

"Our defense gave up 13 points, and when you hold a team to 13 points in a championship game, you have to take advantage of it," Candaele said. "Big games need big players to make big plays, and their guys made them and we didn't.

"It was on the edge though," Candaele continued. "We had opportunities, and those were the type of opportunities that have been bouncing our way all season, in this game, they didn't."

A difference-maker for the Ryan Tukua-run Chaparral defense was the presence of three-year veteran linebacker Matt Lester, who was not able to play in the Pumas' 32-13 loss to the Broncos earlier this season. He was 100-percent on Friday night and it showed.

"Being out of that game killed me and having the opportunity to come back and play in this type of game against (Vista Murrieta) was amazing," Lester said. "Our defense played great, we knew what we had to do tonight and we executed. The DB's stepped up, the linebackers stepped up, the linemen stepped up, the coaches put together a great scheme, and it worked."