Western starts fast and never looks back on its way to first CIF football championship in school history

Western’s football team celebrates its first CIF title Friday night after a 49-21 win over Peninsula.

Western started fast and never looked back Friday night on the way to its first CIF football title in school history, culminating a dramatic turn-around for a program that had just one win in 2014.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Western captains (from left) Rashaan Hester, Anthony Munoz, Jacob Domino and James Mendoza represent the Pioneers for the coin toss.

Peninsula captains (from left) Ethan Gretzinger, Ethan Han, Zackary Denney and Jason Augello represent their team for the coin toss.

Peninsula's Ethan Han picks up yards Friday night.

Rashaan Hester of Western scampers for yards against Peninsula.

Western Coach Dan Davidson talks to his players during a timeout.

Western fans follow their teams in Friday's finals.

Quarterback Anthony Munoz drops back to pass in Friday's game.

Caine Savage of Western tries to break the grasp of a Peninsula's Ryan Glover Friday night.

Western fans follow the action Friday night in the CIF championship game.

Anthony Munoz of Western congratulates his teammates after a big play Friday night.

Jacob Domino of Western picks up yards against Peninsula.

Western cheerleaders encourage their team Friday night.

Mason O'Connor of Peninsula tries to get away from a Western defender Friday night.

Caine Savage of Western sprints in for a touchdown Friday night.

Xzayvier Moran of Western celebrates the Pioneers CIF title.

Ian Domino of Western celebrates the CIF title Friday night.

Western's Caine Savage celebrates the victory Friday night.

Western celebrates the first CIF football title in school history.

The Pioneers, playing in front of their home fans, defeated Peninsula 49-21 in the CIF Division 11 title game in front of an estimated 3,500 fans at Western.

Quarterback Anthony Munoz passed for 296 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Pioneers (12-2). The program was 1-9 in Coach Dan Davidson’s first year as coach in 2014.

“It’s an amazing jump for our program,” Munoz said. “We jumped to a quick start with the opening kick-off touchdown and then we hopped on top with our offense and our defense made key stops and we just ran away with it from there,” Munoz said.

“Our defense played amazing down the stretch. The offense did what we do best, throw the ball, run the ball and overall it was an amazing performance by the entire team.”

Western started the game with a 98-yard kickoff return by Cassius Savage. The Pioneers then recovered the onside kick and later in the drive Jacob Domino scored from 21 yards to give Western a 14-0 lead.

Western extended its lead to 21-0 when Munoz hooked up with Caine Savage on a 55-yard TD pass.

The Pioneers took a 42-14 lead on a 9-yard TD pass from Munoz to Caine Savage with 2:03 left in the second quarter.

Peninsula cut the lead to 42-21 when Sebastian Huizar scored on a 5-yard TD run with 9:07 left in the third quarter. But Munoz sealed the win when he connected with Caine Savage on a 31-yard TD pass later in the quarter to make it 49-21.

Caine Savage had four touchdown catches and eight receptions for 169 yards while his brother Cassius had four catches for 83 yards and a 62-yard TD catch.

“All season, they’ve been the ones I could always count on along with my tight end and my running backs,” Munoz said. “The twins have been amazing this year. And they’re only juniors, they have a whole another year ahead of them.”

“It’s more than me as a coach,” said Coach Dan Davidson. “It’s me as a belief in what I was trying to do. I didn’t come here just to win football games. I came here to win over kids characters and it took a bit longer than we wanted. But I got a group of kids who really fought and believe in each other and love each other and we used that as our foundation.”

Davidson honored former Western coach Toby Howell by bringing him up for the trophy presentation. Western’s last appearance in a CIF title game was in 2004.

“We wanted to win the championship for all those teams that came up short,” Davidson said. “When we were running sprints on Monday, that’s what we were talking about and fighting and believing. I’m just so proud of those guys.”

The onsides kick following the first touchdown set the tone for the game.

“The game is in three phases: special teams, offense and defense,” Davidson said. “We felt there were a couple spots where we could get an onsides in and we took the gamble on it and how good is Bobby Palacias (the kicker), placing it where he did. He placed it exactly what we talked about and that’s a credit.”

Peninsula (9-5) was led by Ethan Han, who rushed for 108 yards on eight carries.

                             STATS

PHS                14     00    00    07     —  21

WHS               28    14    07     00    —   49

RUSHING: PHS Han 18-108, O’Connor 11-78; WHS Hester 19-76; Domino 3-29

PASSING: PHS Hawarth 7-22-0, 77 yards; WHS Munoz 16-22-0, 296 yards, 5 TDs

RECEIVING: PHS Sklobar 6-59; WHS Caine Savage 8-169, Cassius Savage 4-83

A LOOK AT HOW WESTERN BUILT THE BLOCKS TO REACH THE TITLE GAME

PRE-GAME PICTURES FROM FRIDAY’S CIF CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone, timburt@ocsportszone.com