Chris Solomon rushed for 195-yard Friday night
(Walnut)- Visiting West Covina spotted Walnut a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before rushing back with 447 yards yards on the ground and a 41-24 victory at Ken Gunn Stadium Friday night.
The Hacienda League opener saw things start very well for the Mustangs. Piecing together a 67-yard drive, highlighted by 36-yard completion from Brandon Roach to Matthew Wang, Wanut stalled at the Bulldogs 11. Matthew Almeida booted a 28-yard field goal and it was 3-0 home team.
On the kick-off the intended squib ricochet off a West Covina player and the Mustangs recovered. The Bulldogs would force a three and out but a long night for the special teams had just begun.
Four minutes later Walnut got the ball back deep inside WestCo territory on Jason Tsukada’s 55-yard punt return. After Maurice Duplesasis sacked Roach for a 9-yard loss the Mustangs were facing third and 15 from the 22. Roach went to the end zone on the following down and Aubrey Coleman out jumped defenders for the score. Nicole McKee added the point after and things were looking great Michael O’Shields squad after one.
As the first passed to the second things began looking decidedly less great…at the 11:50 mark of the second frame Chris Solomon crossed into paydirt at the end of a 57-yard run, but it was the next drive that spun the evening into West Covina’s favor.
Starting at their own two, the Bulldogs went 98-yards on nine plays. Charles Tucker added a 50-yard blast before quarterback George Johnson found him from 5-yards out to make the score 14-10. Besides Tucker’s run, and a 17-yarder by Solomon, it was the WestCo offensive line (Michael Cortez, Jon Logan, Mark Laffin, Raymond Amaya, Joseph Gibson) taking full control.
Walnut did get possession to start the second half when the Bulldogs botched another kick-off, but were soon forced to punt.
Taking over at its own 20, West Covina made short work of its opening drive in the third. B.J. Lee went 63-yards before being taken down by Coleman at the 17. The Mustangs had little time to catch their breath as Johnson ran 17-yards on the next play and it was 21-10.
Another punt and 53-yard run by the Bulldogs Aaron Salgado set up an 8-yard scoring pass from Johnson to Anthony Molina and it was 27-10 with 5:27 remaining in the third.
Four minutes later West Covina was deep in Walnut territory again but a fumble by Johnson was returned 77-yards for a touchdown by Randy Collings. That favor was returned by Salgado who returned a Roach fumble in the fourth quarter 24-yards to the end zone.
Up 34-17, the WestCo kick-off team failed a third time when Coleman went 98-yards through the middle, mostly untouched, to make it 34-24.
Salgado closed the scoring with 5:36 left in the game on a 39-yard scoring run.
Along with the fumble return for a touchdown the West Covina defense recorded three sacks (two by Justen Meaders), collected two pick (Gus Vilchis & Molina), and threw the Mustangs for significant losses on a half dozen separate plays. On offense Solomon added 195-yards on 13 carries, while Johnson was 3-of-4 for 16 yards and two scores.
Coleman finished with 8 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.
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