Anthony Miller runs the "Wild Knight" attack
El Monte) The Arroyo Knights defense limited the La Canada Spartan offense to 83 total yards en route to a 26-7 victory Friday night to close out the non-league portion both teams schedules at B.L. Bergstrom Stadium.
Arroyo (4-1) got a big game from Anthony Miller who caught ten balls for 168-yards and a touchdown. Miller also saw some action at quarterback running Arroyo’s version of the Wild Knight offense. Miller was playing with a bit of a heavy heart after the loss of his grandfather.
The Knights also welcomed back Steven Rivera to the lineup. The junior quarterback missed their last game against Hart and the majority of the game against Montebello with and ankle injury. Even with his ankle not at one hundred percent, Rivera still found a way to throw for 278-yards and two scores on 19 of 28 passing. The rust showed a little on Rivera as he also threw two interceptions.
La Canada capitalized on one of those interceptions for their lone score of the night. Rivera looking to avoid the Spartan rush fired the ball deep over the middle into coverage. Daleep Sandhu stepped in front of the pass at the La Canada 45. Sandhu started up field, got to the edge, turned the corner and outraced the Knights to the endzone.
The touchdown brought the Spartans to within three at 10-7 after a 28-yard field goal by Cesar Barva and an eight yard scoring pass from River to Hunter Duran. Arroyo maintained that three point advantage for the rest of the first half.
The Spartan offense was somewhat hamstrung without the services of starting quarterback Scott Gray who was out nursing a shoulder injury.
Midway through the third period, Barva booted another 28-yard field goal to give the Knights a six point advantage. The score coming after an eight play drive stalled and the La Canada 11.
With 1:36 left in the third quarter, Rivera looked deep over the middle and found Miller on a 63-yard strike that Miller took to paydirt.
“This was one of the better defensive games we’ve played. We’ve played pretty well. I think they had like 34-yards in the first half. They played well and kept us in the game until we knocked the rust off. The second half looked more like Arroyo football” commented Knight HC Jim Singiser after the game.
The Knight defense did it’s part all night holding the Spartan offense in check no letting La Canada get any momentum
Mike Vasquez gets some tough yards agains theSpartans
or sustain a drive. No Spartan drive in the second half went for more than five plays.
The final score of the evening came with 3:16 left in the final frame. Arroyo’s Sam Aholoka blasted his way in from two yards out sealing the victory for the Knights.
Up next Arroyo opens Mission Valley League play going on the road to “The Swamp” to face the South El Monte Eagles. La Canada gets some home cooking as they open up Rio Hondo League play against the South Pasadena Tigers.
Summary:
| La Canada | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Arroyo | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 |
| Arroyo | 5:56 1st Qtr Barva 28-yard field goal |
| Arroyo | 11:52 2nd Qtr Duran 8-yards from Rivera (Barva kick) |
| La Canada | 5:18 2nd Qtr Sandhu 55-yard interception return (Cervenka kick) |
| Arroyo | 7:09 3rd Qtr Barva 28-yard field goal |
| Arroyo | 1:36 3rd Qtr Miller 63-yards from Rivera (Barva kick) |
| Arroyo | 3:16 4th Qtr Aholoka 2-yard run (PAT failed) |
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