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Schools

Wildcats Flex Their Muscles in Playoff Win

De'Shawn Ramirez came up big on both sides of the ball for Monrovia in a 67-21 blowout victory.

The football team scored early and often en route to a 67-21 victory over Whittier Christian in the second round of the CIF-SS Mid-Valley Division playoffs on Friday night.

On the Wildcats' opening possession, Quarterback Blake Heyworth connected with George Frazier for a 56-yard touchdown, but it was senior De’Shawn Ramirez who stole the show. Ramirez rushed for 133 yards with three touchdowns while also intercepting two passes from the strong safety position, returning one of the picks for a 100-yard touchdown.

"Our defense was lights out," said Monrovia coach Ryan Maddox. "We’ve been getting better each week and we’re playing our best football of the season when it matters most."

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The Heralds, , managed just seven points in the first half against Monrovia's suffocating defensive line that totaled six sacks on quarterback Daniel Chacon.

Chacon threw a touchdown pass to Grant Escobar to get Whittier Christian (7-5, 3-1) on the scoreboard in the second half, but the Wildcats came right back with another scoring drive capped by a touchdown run by Ramirez. The Wildcats led 42-7 at halftime.

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"We moved the ball on offense and came up with some big plays," said Maddox.  "We had a great week of practice and it translated in the game."

Monrovia (9-3, 5-0) has reeled off a remarkable eight consecutive victories following a loss to South Hills on September 30 that dropped the team's record to 1-3.  It was an unexpected start for a program that won the Mid-Valley championship a year ago.

"I don’t think our intensity and hunger was where it needed to be early in the season," said Maddox. "After a few losses it sunk in that we would have to be just as focused and work just as hard to get back to the championship game."

The Wildcats have just one hurdle remaining to reach a third-straight championship game (they lost to San Dimas in 2009). Monrovia will face Covina (11-1, 6-0) in next week’s Mid-Valley semifinal matchup.

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