ORANGE LEAGUE : Anaheim Is a Step Closer to the Title

ANAHEIM —  And then there was one.

That’s how many more games Anaheim must win to take the Orange League title outright. The Colonists moved into position by beating Brea-Olinda, 31-27, Thursday night at Glover Stadium.

The Colonists (8-1, 4-0 in league) finish the league season next Friday at Western, which will try to stay one game back in the standings with a victory against Magnolia tonight at Glover. The loss virtually eliminates Brea (3-6, 1-3) from playoff contention.

“This win means a lot, but if we don’t win next week, we could possibly go as a third-place team,” Anaheim’s first-year Coach Todd Borowski said.

If Anaheim wins the league championship, it will be the second time in the last 10 years that Valencia has not been on top. Brea won the title in 1990.

The Colonists won Thursday night with good defense and an opportunistic offense that took advantage of several Brea mistakes. Anaheim sacked Brea quarterback Paul Chiotti six times.

After a one-yard run by Wildcat running back Sean Bickel cut the Anaheim lead to 24-20 with 7 minutes, 24 seconds left in the game, Anaheim scored the decisive points when Brea opened the door by dropping a punt reception.

On fourth and five from their 22, the Colonists punted but Brea’s Mike Valverde fumbled the ball and Anaheim’s Jake Walker recovered it at the Brea 49. A holding penalty and a loss of yardage on a draw play backed Anaheim to its 40, but then quarterback Phil Covarrubias connected with wide receiver Gabriel Alcala on a 62-yard pass play for the winning touchdown with 4:24 to play.

Bickel scored for the Wildcats on a four-yard run in their next possession and Brea got the ball for one last drive with 1:22 remaining, but Chiotti fumbled while being sacked by nose tackle Joaquin Arredondo and nose guard Tony Olivos recovered for Anaheim.

Chiotti was 14 of 22 for 208 yards passing and one touchdown, and Covarrubias eight of 17 for 127 yards and three touchdowns. Bickel led all rushers with 113 yards.