On Wednesday, October 9th, the long-standing rivalry between Bonita and San Dimas high schools took on new significance with the first-ever girls flag football game between the two schools. Dubbed the “Smudge Crown,” this exciting matchup became part of a beloved District tradition and marked history as Bonita and San Dimas faced off in the inaugural season of CIF Southern Section flag football.

The game, which was rescheduled due to the Bridge Fire in September, featured a dramatic and personal twist—a head-to-head sibling rivalry. Sisters Ashley and Breanna Sandmark, both seniors and co-captains of their respective teams, lined up on opposite sides of the field for the first time. With Breanna leading Bonita and Ashley captaining San Dimas, the stakes were higher than ever, making this game a must-watch event for both schools.

Taking place under the lights at Glenn Davis Stadium in La Verne, Bonita came into the game undefeated, looking to maintain its perfect record. San Dimas aimed to spoil their rival’s run and claim victory. The game did not disappoint, as Bonita emerged victorious with a thrilling 19-14 win after a tense final four minutes of play. This victory added another chapter to the Bonita-San Dimas rivalry, with Bonita recently retaining the Smudge Pot trophy in their traditional football matchup.

The “Smudge Crown” is the girls’ flag football version of the iconic Smudge Pot rivalry, which honors the region’s citrus industry history with a silver Smudge Pot trophy. For this occasion, a new symbol was created—a crown fabricated from metal by Brian Harrison, which now sits atop the Smudge Pot to represent victory in the girls’ game.

Coach Mann and Coach Garcia have led the Bonita girls to an undefeated season so far, and they hope to continue their streak in their upcoming game against Claremont High School. The entire Bonita community is celebrating this milestone, as news stations like ULV, Channel 9, Channel 11, Channel 7, and Channel 4 were on hand to cover the historic event.

Congratulations to the coaches, the players, and the entire Bonita flag football team for this incredible achievement. Once the news coverage links are available, we will share them with the community. Great job, Bearcats!