RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Matt Poston conceded one big play before kickoff.
Two tops.
Knowing Rancho Cucamonga boasted a pair of game-changers in Aaron Manning and Jaylon Redd, the Tesoro coach accepted the notion the Cougars running back tandem would inevitably extend several plays with their athleticism.
When six of those aforementioned sequences resulted in touchdowns, though, the Titans gave themselves absolutely no chance at coming from behind as they’d done in several instances this season.
With Manning and Redd running rampant, Rancho Cucamonga throttled third-seeded Tesoro, 53-28, in a CIF-SS West Valley Division second-round game with the winds howling Friday night at Los Osos High.
The Cougars (9-3) will host second-seeded Vista Murrieta next Friday in the division’s semifinals, while Tesoro finished the year with a 9-3 record.
“They completely dominated us with their running game tonight,” Poston said. “I don’t know how many yards they rushed for but it seemed like 500. You got to take your hat off. They were physical and they were juking us like crazy. We were missing tackles and they beat us tonight.”
Manning, Redd and senior quarterback Angel Matute racked up 315 yards rushing on 40 carries. Manning led all rushers with 180 yards and three touchdowns, while Redd added 78 yards and a rushing TD.
The junior also caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Matute in the final minutes of the second half to put the Cougars up, 27-14, at the break.
“Our two backs are studs, and I think our offensive line is getting better every week,” said Rancho Cucamonga coach Nick Baiz, who notched his 100th career win on Friday. “Hopefully we’re peaking at the right time.”
The Cougars scored 26 consecutive points in the third quarter, 14 of which came off Tesoro turnovers.
Devon Modster was intercepted three times Friday after tossing just two over the course of the entire season. His third miscue of the night was returned 32 yards for a touchdown by Redd for his third touchdown.
“It’s hard because this is a special group of seniors that did have a really good year,” Poston added. “We played really good team after really good team, and won a lot of those games.”
Despite entering the game as the county’s leader in passing yards, Modster was held to 217 yards and one touchdown through the air. The Arizona-bound senior did rush for 108 yards and two scores.
His first rushing score of the evening came on a 5-yard keeper on the opening play of the second quarter, cutting Rancho Cucamonga’s lead to 21-14.
By the time the Titans found the end zone again, they trailed 53-21 in the fourth with a running clock.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
