La Cañada Spartans defeated West Covina 30-14 in the first round of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division 7 playoffs Friday at Thyberg Field.
Kickoff began at 7 p.m. La Cañada scored 17 points in the first quarter and maintained the lead for the remainder of the game. West Covina scored its first touchdown in the second quarter, making the halftime score 17-7. La Cañada added to the score in the third and fourth quarters to reach 30. West Covina scored once more in the fourth quarter, leading to the 30-14 final score.
According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, La Cañada’s offense was led by running backs Alex Allen and Leland Pride, who combined for multiple rushing touchdowns. The Spartans’ defense forced four total turnovers, recovering two fumbles and intercepting two passes.
Despite the score gap, Bulldogs kept the push continuing in hopes of shifting the momentum. Both teams exchanged possessions throughout the game. West Covina entered the postseason with a 7-3 record and ended with 7-4. La Cañada, which began the game at 9-1, advanced to 10-1 and continued to the second round of the Division 7 bracket. The Spartans’ next opponent will be determined by the CIF scheduling.
Head Coach Bai Kabba said turnovers had a significant impact on the trajectory of the game. He pointed to the mistakes that shaped the momentum.
“We made a couple of mistakes that led to some big plays, and it’s hard to come back from that. We had four turnovers, which is tough because it gives the other team more opportunities. It’s hard to make mistakes and win in the playoffs,” Kabba said.
Kabba continued that the team worked to steady themselves and respond appropriately when the opportunities reappeared.
“We ended up getting two fumble recoveries. Then we went down and scored, and guys made some big plays, and we were staying in the fight. And so there were, multiple times throughout the game, the players and the coaches felt like we were going to pull that one out and get the win. So I was proud of the guys for continuing the fight,” Kabba said.
Senior Tarius “TJ” Wilson echoes the emotion, reflecting on the team’s early struggles and continued resilience.
“If we played a little bit better the first 10 minutes, we would have won. None of us were really woken up. None of us were communicating until the second quarter. So if we were woken up like we were supposed to, they would not have scored at all,” Wilson said.
However despite the loss, Wilson highlighted moments of pride throughout the game and season.
“All my linemen got that sack, that was big. My boys, they went a long way, and everybody got like a thousand times better. So I’m happy,” Wilson said.
The loss also marked the end of the season for the senior class. Kabba
described how the team’s effort throughout the year reflected a broader shift in how the sport approaches expectations, culture, and accountability. As the players walked off the field for the final time this season, he emphasized the foundation they built for next season and future teams.
“A lot of things I’m proud of, for those young men, especially the senior class helping change and shift some of the culture with expectations. That’s a big part of a big culture change, and it’s a testament to the seniors and players on the team for building that culture where they can kind of stay together through thick and thin,” Kabba said.
