A Bright Future for Chaffey Football
Written by Xavier Estrada. Photos by Xavier Estrada| Edited by David Garcia
For the first time in 12 years, the Chaffey Tigers JV football team has a league championship. Chaffey beat Don Lugo 20-8 to claim the Gano League crown.
On Thursday, October 29, Chaffey met Don Lugo High School in the Gano League Championship Game, with both teams entering at 4-0 in league play. Something had to give, and the Tigers made sure it was Don Lugo. The run marks Chaffey’s first title contention in over a decade, a turnaround driven by a new coaching staff led by Coach Montigo, Coach Drigo and Coach Rodrigo.
Setting the tone
Chaffey kicked off and immediately let the Conquistadors know what kind of night it would be. The Tigers forced three fumbles in a single series. None ended in a recovery, but the message was clear: this defense was going to hit, and hit hard.
Don Lugo answered by finding its rhythm, punching in a touchdown and adding a two-point conversion to take an early lead. The advantage didn’t last. On the ensuing possession, running back Alejandro Torres (#14) broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown run and put Chaffey right back in it.
Taking control
From there, the Tigers took over. The defense locked down Don Lugo’s offense, and quarterback Ryan Parsons (#3) went to work through the air, finishing with more than 200 passing yards.
His biggest throw of the drive was a 35-yard strike to Caleb Barnes (#5) that set Chaffey up at the Don Lugo 10-yard line. The Tigers finished the drive with a touchdown, and Torres ran in the two-point conversion.
Parsons wasn’t finished. Before halftime, he found Jordan Mata (#2) for a 55-yard touchdown pass. It was the final score of the night. Chaffey’s defense held from there, and the Tigers closed out a 20-8 win as Gano League Champions.
What comes next
A 12-year drought ended in one night, under a staff still in its first chapter. With a young core of playmakers and a defense that sets the tone from the opening whistle, the future of Chaffey football looks bright.
✍️ Written by Xavier Estrada. 📸 Photos by Xavier Estrada| Edited by David Garcia for: //Longshots Sports Media
