Get Standard Digital access to enjoy this article and more
Already a subscriber?
Arcadia’s Damarco Moorer (2) runs for a touchdown against Alta Loma during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’a Rolandiss Whitener (1) makes a reception and is tackled by Alta Loma’s Psyer Blakely (11) during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s Damarco Moorer (2) runs in for a touchdown against Alta Loma during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma’s starting quarterback Ethan Hery (12) throws a pass against Arcadia during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s stating quarterback Dylan Guerra (10) looks for a receiver against Alta Loma during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma’s David Ramirez III (32) runs for yards as he is tackled by Arcadia’s Damarco Moorer (2) during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s Ahmad Lipscomb (13) runs the ball in for a touchdown against Alta Loma’s Arron Chaney II (9) during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma’s Psyer Blakely (11) runs a reverse against Arcadia during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s Damarco Moorer (2) runs for a touchdown against Alta Loma during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s Ahmad Lipscomb (13) breaks a tackle against Alta Loma during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s Frankie Contreras (9) makes a reception against an Alta Loma defender during the fist half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s Chalchisa Chaffe (18) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Alta Loma during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma’s Psyer Blakely (11) runs the ball back for a touchdown against Arcadia during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma head coach Mark Pasquarella looks on during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game against Arcadia at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma’s Lucas Montoya (46) recovers a fumble against Arcadia during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma’s defenders smother Arcadia’s Deonte Bevel (5) during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s Damarco Moorer (2) finds an opening against Alta Loma during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s Jabari Kindle (3) runs for yards against Alta Loma during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia head coach Andrew Policky looks on during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game against Alta Loma at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s Ty Cavallero (16) intercepts the ball and runs it in for a touchdown against Alta Loma during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia sophomore and cheerleader Lauren Banuelos (right) reacts to the camera during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game against Alta Loma at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma’s (5) fights off Arcadia defenders during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma’s Alex Granger (2) brings down the ball against Arcadia’s Dyllan Wright (4) during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma’s David Ramirez III (32) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Arcadia during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma junior and cheerleader Madison Guandique (17) looks on during the second half of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game against Arcadia at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia’s Michelangelo Loretto (55) reacts after taking a portrait with his team at the end of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game against Alta Loma at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Arcadia head football coach Andrew Policky speaks to his players at the end of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game against Alta Loma at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
Alta Loma players raise their helmets at the end of a prep Division 8 semi-final football game against Arcadia at Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. on Friday November 16, 2018. Arcadia defeated Alta Loma 62-72. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)
RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> Arcadia once against showcased its high powered offense on Friday night, as it defeated Alta Loma 62-27 in the CIF Southern Section Division 8 semifinal.
The win advances Arcadia to its first CIF championship game in 40 years next week, where they will host Kaiser.
“We know this is special, it doesn’t come around very often,” Arcadia head coach Andrew Policky said. “It’s a good feeling to get over the hump and get into the finals, and it know that it’s going to be a crazy atmosphere next week.”
It was the big plays that were key to Arcadia taking control in the early goings, as the Apaches scored three of their five first half touchdowns with plays of over 50 yards.
Damarco Moorer scored the first of those on only the second play of the game with a 58 yard run, which was followed on the ensuing possession with a touchdown reception from Ahmed Lipscomb to put the Apaches up 14-0.
Two more big plays in the second quarter, in a 55 yard punt return touchdown from Rolandiss Whitener and a 57 yard quarterback keeper score from Dylan Guerra helped Arcadia to a 38- 7 lead at the break.
“We are the type of team that plays well when we are ahead,” Policky said. “Once we are able to get that first seven on the board our confidence starts to build and we can start to snowball from there.”
The Apaches sealed the contest in the second half with three more touchdowns including a 52 yard run from Whitener and a 40 yard return on a pick six from Ty Cavallero.
Arcadia quarterback Guerra completed 13 of 21 passes for 195 yards.
“We knew coming into this game that we wanted to make history,” Guerra said. “We had a slow start in the quarterfinals and we knew that we had to come out and score points early tonight.”
Moorer lead the Apache rushing offense with 11 carries for 85 yards.
Psyer Blakely scored two touchdowns for the Braves in the loss, rushing for 118 yards on 4 carries and catching four passes for 98 yards.
David Ramirez led Alta Loma rushing efforts with 21 carries for 93 yards, while quarterback Ethan Hery went 9 of 27 in the air for 165 yards.
