CAVALIER BROTHERHOOD TOPPLES LIONS 14–7, REACH D-II TITLE GAME

WOODLAND HILLS – Getting healthy at the right time, Cleveland entered their CIF City Section D2 semifinal match with Fairfax outscoring their postseason opponents 66-3. At the center of the team’s dominance was a newly healthy Domenik Fuentes, returning to helm both at quarterback and middle linebacker.

The Cavaliers opened with a three-and-out. Fairfax took over after a punt and, in a sign of things to come, promptly fumbled the handoff. Joseph Hurtado pounced on it deep in Lions territory.

A football player in a red jersey makes a spectacular one-handed catch in the rain, with opposing players in white and black jerseys nearby.

Cobeh Green hauled in an acrobatic one-handed catch from Fuentes, setting up Cleveland with a first down at the 12. Three plays later, Fuentes lowered his shoulder and punched in the game’s first score. A botched extra point kept it 6-0. An early warning of kicking dangers to come.

A football player in a red jersey evades a defender in a white jersey on a wet football field during a game.

A player in red attempts to evade a tackle near the end zone while two opposing players in white close in during a high school football game in the rain.

Fairfax returned the ensuing kickoff deep into Cavalier territory, but Fuentes answered with back-to-back bruising tackles, part of a night where he and linebackers Hurtado and Oluwafemi Okelola played like wrecking balls.

Cleveland’s thousand-yard rusher, Moyosoreoluwa Odebunmi, found no room to operate all night long. Only power runs up the middle proved effective, so Cavaliers’ head coach Mario Guzman turned to Brandon Maldonado and Joseph Hurtado to shoulder more carries. Both had some success but the Lions defense kept the Cavalier offense bottled up.

Two football players in red jerseys tackle a player in a white jersey on a wet field during a rainstorm.

Two Cleveland Cavaliers players in red jerseys tackle a Fairfax player in a black jersey on a wet football field during a rainstorm.

In the 2nd quarter, Fairfax used penalties to fuel their lone real drive – one that culminated in a 13-yard touchdown run. The Lions converted the ever-important extra point to take a 7-6 lead with 8:23 left in the half. With rainfall worsening, the defenses took over until halftime.

Fairfax football player running with the ball on a wet field during a game, with teammates celebrating in the background.

The second half devolved into chaos with botched snaps and fumbles galore. A bad Fairfax long snap gave Cleveland possession at the Lions’ 15-yard line. But on Cleveland’s very first offensive play, they fumbled the ball right back. The rain came down harder.

Later in the 3rd quarter, the Cavaliers attempted a field goal that never got above the line. Fairfax abandoned kicking altogether.

Football players on a rainy field, with one attempting a kick while others are positioned around for a play.

After the Lions botched another fourth-down snap resulting in a turnover on downs, Cleveland took possession with 3:36 remaining. Down 7–6, this looked like the Cavalier’s last chance. But on their very first play, Hurtado fumbled and Fairfax recovered. It was a comedy of errors. The Lions could simply bleed the clock. One first down could do it.

But the Cavalier defense rose to the occasion again, with Domenik Fuentes delivering two more clutch tackles for losses. Snapping the ball became a liability for the Lions. Facing fourth-and-21 from their own 21, Fairfax appeared ready to gamble, but their tough quarterback Matthew Gonzalez quick-kicked instead, catching Cleveland off guard. The punt set the Cavaliers back at their own 42 with 1:31 to play.

Football players from Fairfax and Cleveland collide during a rainy game, with one player being tackled by two opponents.

With the rain showing no signs of letting up and how things had gone offensively, it looked like it would take a miracle. But there was no quit in the Cavaliers. Guzman reflected: “These guys bought into a brotherhood. That’s been our theme all year long. We preach playing for each other. Playing together. Never giving up.”

And that brotherhood was on full display on the final drive when the Cavalier offense came to life. Okelola took a handoff and slashed for 18-yards to the Lion’s 40.

A football player in a red jersey, number 0, evades defenders while running on a wet field during a rainstorm.

A high school football player in a red jersey with the number 8 throws a football during a rain-soaked game, while teammates and an opposing player are in motion on the field.

Fuentes then fired a dart over the middle to Jesus Fuentes, who climbed the ladder and snagged the slick ball at the 22-yard line. :45 seconds left. Plenty of time. You could feel momentum swing fully on Cleveland’s side. Guys were making plays.

D. Fuentes dropped back to pass and threw toward the sideline, but a leaping defender got as finger on it, redirecting the ball back to the middle. Wobbling, it landed in the waiting arms of J. Fuentes and he powered into the end zone for the game-winning score.

A football player in a white uniform leaps to catch a pass while rain pours down during a game, with players in red jerseys nearby.

A football player in a red uniform is being tackled by two opposing players in white uniforms during a rainstorm on a wet field.

D. Fuentes played loud on both sides of the ball, leading his team with five tackles for losses and 2.5 sacks. On offense he threw for 72 yards and saved his best for crunch time. He and Jesus, may have etched their names into school lore with clutch performances that now give the Cavaliers a chance to capture their first ever football championship.

“Cleveland’s never won one. We’ve been to the dance once or twice,” Guzman said. “We want to bring it home for the alumni.”

They’ll get that chance this weekend against a tough San Fernando squad that crushed Marshall 53–8 to reach the title game. It has all the makings of a classic.

all photos by Benjamin Becher