Arlington’s Ray Warhop tries to avoid El Camino Real’s Sam Toven in the second half of the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
RIVERSIDE — Arlington secured its first trip to a CIF State football championship game by defeating El Camino Real, 24-14, Saturday in the CIF South Division 6-A Regional final.
It took a team effort throughout the game with multiple players scoring for the Lions (7-8).
El Camino Real and Arlington went scoreless in the first quarter, with each team having just one possession.
In a short-yardage situation, Arlington head coach Kevin Argumosa tabbed lineman Gregory Mcdaniel to secure the score and the early lead.
Arlington’s Head Coach Kevin Argumosa and players celebrate after receiving the plaque in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game against El Camino Real at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Jeromy Rodriguez, Jonathan Carbajal and assistant coach Terry Ford pose for a photo after winning the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game against El Camino Real at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Bejohn Turner is tackled by El Camino Real’s Ricardo Rodriguez in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Head Coach Kevin Argumosa receives the plaque from CIF President of the Council Mike West after winning the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game against El Camino Real at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Ray Warhop, Jonathan Carbajal, Jeromy Rodriguez, and Christian Barnett pose with the plaque after winning the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game against El Camino Real at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
El Camino Real’s Jomar Adams is tackled by Arlington’s Luke Rogers in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Ray Warhop is tackled by El Camino Real’s Kameron Dover in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Gregory McDaniels powers himself into the endzone for a touchdown against El Camino Real’s in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
El Camino Real’s Dredon Fowles tries to escape from Arlington’s Jeromy Rodriguez tackle in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington team enters the field before the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game against El Camino Real at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Gregory Mcdaniel pushes for extra yardage against El Camino Real’s defenders during the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s cheerleader perform during the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game between Arlington and El Camino Real at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Bejohn Turner is stopped by El Camino Real’s Ariel Guerrero in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
El Camino Real’s Kameron Dover is consoled by a staff member after losing in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game against Arlington at Ramona High School in Riverside on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Ray Warhop tries to avoid El Camino Real’s Sam Toven in the second half of the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
CIF President of the Council Mike West presents the runner-up plaque to El Camino Real’s Head Coach Jason Sabolicin after the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game against Arlington at Ramona High School in Riverside on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Ray Warhop breaks away from El Camino Real’s defenders to score a touchdown in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
El Camino Real’s Jomar Adams blocks a pass intended for Arlington’s Mitchell Wood in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
El Camino Real’s Colin Ermita rushes the ball against Arlington’s Nicolaus Reyas Bautista in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Nicolaus Reyas Bautista tries to stop El Camino Real’s Kameron Dover in the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Arlington’s Head Coach Kevin Argumosa gives instructions during the CIF State Division 6A football regional championship game against El Camino Real at Ramona High School on Friday Dec. 04, 2021. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Instead of asking him to block for one of the Lions’ running backs, he used the 6-3, 300-pound senior to run up the middle for the 5-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.
“When I got hired, Mcdaniel came out and took on leadership roles,” Argumosa said. “He guides our O-line and D-line, he helps guys during practice, and even this past week we have some of the (underclassman) players we moved up for playoffs and he’s coaching them up when he’s not in there.
“He’s a great leader to have and I’m going to be sad when he (graduates).”
The Lions used four different runners, including Mcdaniel, out of the backfield for the 7-0 lead.
The Lions added to their lead when quarterback Dominic Johnson completed a 56-yard TD pass to Matthew Meloni in the first half.
El Camino Real was able to cut into the Lions’ lead with a scoring drive late in the second quarter.
The Royals converted twice on fourth-and-1 before quarterback Troy Spellman completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to receiver Rafa Cortez, who managed to get behind the secondary in the end zone with 29 seconds left in the first half.
Senior running back Raymond Warhop was the Lions’ leading rusher with 140 yards and a touchdown. Warhop’s 36-yard touchdown run in the third quarter helped extend the Lions’ lead to 21-7 with 5:58 left in the third quarter.
Argumosa started his head coaching duties at Arlington five weeks before the season started. Argumosa and the Lions will have one more week together as the victory Saturday earned them a spot in the state championship game.
Arlington will travel to Richmond to play Salesian (10-2) on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m.
“When I got hired it was just about putting together offense and defense with our lingo,” Argumosa said. “We’re not reinventing the wheel and we’re not (doing) anything new. It’s just the kids believing in the system and understanding.”
