BREA – How boring it must have been being Sonora’s Cole McDonald a year ago.
Known as recently as last year as the quarterback from whom running back Jacob Fimbres received his handoffs, McDonald began this season as a wild card of sorts. Could he do enough to keep opposing defenses honest? Could he present some sort of passing threat?
Given the opportunity Friday night, McDonald proved to be just as terrifying a source of yards as his all-everything running mate.
The senior signal caller completed 10 passes for 191 yards, turned 12 carries into 180, and had a hand in four scores, as Sonora defeated Brea Olinda, 52-35, at Brea Olinda High.
“I’ve stepped up the plate,” said McDonald, who last week against Whittier passed for 118 yards but rushed for only two. “I worked hard in the offseason to get better, to give Jacob other options, to make great plays in the passing game.
It’s really all on him. The defense flows to him, and I’m playing off what he does. … We complement each other. We’re a dynamic duo, for sure. We’re going to be deadly.”
Fimbres still got his, the senior running back scoring twice while rushing for 163 yards on 21 carries. Though short, his touchdown runs were the culmination of long drives during which he and McDonald shared ball carrying duties.
“Cole’s efficient,” Raiders coach Paul Chiotti said. “You saw that tonight. He knows people will key on Jacob, but he’s a darned fast kid himself, and he can make some great throws.”
Sonora’s offensive line deserves much of the credit for springing Fimbres, McDonald and Benjamin Kim for large gains, the quintet’s deception and blocking at the line of scrimmage pristine against a defensive unit believed to be one of the North Hills League’s best.
Rare was the carry Fimbres and McDonald didn’t pick up at least a handful of yards before initial contact.
“Our offensive linemen work,” Chiotti said. “I’m a former quarterback, so you gotta love linemen. What I love about our guys is that they show up every game ready to work. They really enjoy helping our running backs out.
“And in the second halves of games, they impose their will.”
Brea running back Michael Martinson had himself a first quarter, scoring on runs of 65 and 5 yards. He later eclipsed the century mark before suffering what appeared to be a leg injury.
Martinson finished with 145 yards.
Contact the writer: bwhitehead@ocregister.com
