The highly anticipated 2024 Smudge Pot football game between Bonita High School and San Dimas High School is set to take place on Friday, September 13, at 7:30 PM at Citrus College. Tickets are available at gofan.co. This year marks the 52nd edition of one of Southern California’s longest-standing high school rivalries, which began in 1972.
Bonita enters the game with a 3-0 record, having outscored their opponents 111-41 so far this season. They are led by quarterback Travis Lippert, who has thrown for 602 yards and 8 touchdowns with a remarkable 70% completion rate. Key offensive weapons include receivers Dylan Robinson and Noah Mikhail, who have combined for over 330 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
San Dimas, with a 2-0 record, will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak in this rivalry. They bring a powerful ground attack, averaging 343 rushing yards per game. Running back Caleb Morquecho has been a standout with 249 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, supported by Julian Vigil’s 193 yards on just 11 carries.
The game is not just a football clash but a celebration of school spirit, featuring halftime performances by marching bands, cheer teams, and color guards. The Bearcats, currently ranked 95th in the state, will aim to keep the Smudge Pot trophy, while the Saints, ranked 249th, hope to reclaim it.
The battle for the iconic silver Smudge Pot trophy, a symbol of the cities’ shared citrus history, promises to be a thrilling contest.
- This year we are highlighting the games from 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004, and 2014. Bonita has won three of those games in ’94, ’04, and ’14, while San Dimas won the games in ’74 and ’84,
- In addition, this is the twenty-fifth anniversary of Bonita’s CIF Championship season in 1999. In the 1999 season Bonita and San Dimas had a rare playoff meeting in a CIF semifinal, that Bonita won 35-22.
- It is also has been 15 years since San Dimas won their first CIF championship in 2009. Coach Bill Zernickow’s Saints defeated Bonita 21 to 13 in that year’s Smudge Pot game.
