By Joseph Rodriguez
(Claremont) – Claremont was handed their first defeat of the season by an Ayala team who rose to the occasion and played much better than their 2-4 record showed. The game was won in the trenches as Ayala’s offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage in a 24-21 win.
Jordan Charles carried the Bulldogs to victory behind an electric 223 yard, 2 touchdown performance.
Ayala jumped out to an early 17-0 lead with 4:03 left in the second quarter. Up to this point Claremont’s only two promising drives stalled; one ended in an interception while on the Bulldogs one yard line and the other off a turnover on downs after an unsuccessful fake punt. Claremont salvaged the first half by cutting the lead to 10, 17-7, when Markelle Davis scored from 2 yards out with 1:03 left in the second.
Ayala opened the second half with an 18 play drive that was capped by a one yard run from Michael Morales. With 2:36 left in the third Ayala led 24-7. On their ensuing possession the Wolfpack responded quickly when Davis ran for 61 yards, virtually untouched, to cut the lead to 24-14.
Although Ayala did not score in the fourth, the Bulldogs dominated the time of possession. By the time the Wolfpack scored with 1:41 left in the fourth to come within three, 24-21, it was too late. The Bulldogs recovered the attempted onside kick and ran out the clock.
- Ayala’s Morales had 66 yards with 1 rushing TD.
- The Bulldogs Max Hura had a nice game rushing for 109 yards on 14 carries.
- Duy Tran-Sampson rushed for 157 yds. on 22 carries and Markelle Davis carried the ball 9 times for 105 yards and 3 TDs for the Wolfpack.
- QB Raine Pohaku Kaheaku-Paiva was 7/19 for 138 yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 interception.
- Claremont is at Diamond Bar next week.
- Ayala travels to Glendora for a Thursday game in a Marquee matchup between the only two undefeated teams in the Palomares League.
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