Brea Can’t Get Past Mayfair

Though rain was not in the forecast, the Brea Olinda Wildcats were hit by a Monsoon on Saturday night at Cerritos Gahr High School.

The unseeded Mayfair Monsoons (10-3) upset the second-seeded Wildcats, 26-13, to advance to the Southern Section Division IX finals against top-seeded La Mirada (13-0) Friday at Cerritos College.

Mayfair dominated both sides of the ball Saturday, outgaining Brea (11-2) by more than 100 yards and forcing six turnovers.

“This was another chapter in our book,” Mayfair Coach Mike Fitch said. “Next week, we will complete the last chapter.”

In their Suburban League showdown earlier in the season, La Mirada won, 21-18.

The Monsoons opened the floodgates early Saturday as Michael Williams scored on a 10-yard pass from Mike Harrison on the first drive of the game. Harrison finished with 256 yards on 20-of-32 passing.

On Brea’s ensuing drive, Williams, a junior, intercepted the second pass attempted by Wildcat quarterback Travis Blood.

“We came out fired up,” Williams said. “We knew they were a tough team, but we beat them with a team effort.”

Mayfair scored two touchdown early in the second quarter on 20- and nine-yard receptions by Joe Hunter to make the score 20-0.

Mayfair stifled Brea’s offense, allowing only 39 yards in the first half. Allen Kennett led the way with two sacks and a blocked punt.

The Monsoons continued their assault in the second half, forcing Brea to punt on its first possession. Craig Garcia caught a 60-yard pass on Mayfair’s first offensive play of the second half, and Williams punched in his second touchdown of the night on a three-yard run on the next play. Garcia had six receptions for 111 yards.

Down, 26-0, in the waning moments of the third quarter, the Wildcats began a rally.

Mike Salazar intercepted a Harrison pass deep in Wildcat territory and Brea put together an 83-yard drive that culminated in an 11-yard touchdown pass play from Blood to Deonta Birdsong.

Matt Muldown recovered the onside kick that followed and Scott Lieng ran for a 30-yard touchdown to close the score to 26-13. Lieng finished with 111 yards in 15 carries.