The Peterson Principle 10/12/10

Yes, through five games Aaron Cantu's numbers are better this year than last

I heard all the rumblings coming out of Mt. View. The Vikings had won two games already- two more than they won all of last year. Coach James Wilson had instilled a new offense – the double wing t – which was producing big numbers. And most of all I was hearing about Jossymar Ulloa.

Ulloa had already run for over 200 yards in three different games and had over 700 yards on the season. The Viking faithful were lighting up our message boards. Of course there are the doubters saying that Mt. View hadn’t played anybody.

So I had to go out and see for myself. And a Saturday night game against Bell- Jeff was a perfect opportunity.

I made the trek out to Burroughs High in Burbank. It’s a nice stadium, kind of old school grass field with bleachers on either side. The snack bar is actually underneath the South grandstands. But if you want a good cheeseburger or Mexican plate it was the place to be.

The Vikings marched right down the field on their first drive with Ulloa capping it with a one yard run. It was the sign of greater things to come.

Ulloa scored again in the second quarter as the Vikes took a 21-7 halftime lead. Ulloa had rushed for 197 yards at the half but I wasn’t blown away yet. He was good- pretty shifty, quick, and liked to dish it out. He blew me away in the second half.

The first half was just the appetizer. Now it was time for the main course. Ulloa scored again…and again…and again…and again. He scored four touchdowns in the second half and finished with six on the night. He scored on three consecutive Mt. View plays. The first one was for three yards but then he busted off jaunts of 65 and 50.

He ran for a school record of 353 yards, (another stat guy had him at 363), and he had a shot at 400 with about eight minutes left in the contest.

When the Vikings got the ball back, this was mentioned to one of the assistant coaches. “350 is good. We don’t want to take a chance of him tweaking a knee or turning an ankle,” he replied.  

It was definitely a wise decision but I was thinking about the story. But 400 or not, I had my story. Ulloa is awesome and View is legit.

No, Bell-Jeff isn’t Charter Oak but 353 yards against Charter Oak, Bell-Jeff or Durfee elementary in the sixth grade flag football league is 353 yards. It’s a great performance and something you rarely get to see.

How good are the Vikings? True, their non league schedule wasn’t a death march but the Vikings did win three games. Time will tell.  

“Yeah we’re excited. I mean this is a team that went 0-10 last year,” Wilson said. “The offense has really made a difference.”

We’ll find out more this week when Mission Valley League play begins. The Vikes travel to El Monte.

Cantu Can Do

There was some talk back in the summer of Schurr quarterback Aaron Cantu’s numbers suffering this year with the graduation of receivers Angel Sanchez and Carlos Arredondo. We’re through the first half of the season and the results are in. Cantu’s numbers are actually better through four games this year than they were after five last year.

After four games Cantu has completed 80 of 121 for 1049 yards with 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He had completed 66 percent of his passes. After five games in 2009 he completed 68 of 115 for 965 yards and 8 scores with two picks- a completion percentage of 59 percent.

Cantu threw for another 145 yards against St. Paul without a touchdown. Overall through five games he has thrown for 1194 yards – 229 more than at this time last year. And he has done it against an arguably tougher schedule.

Schurr opens Almont League play this week at Bell Gardens. The Cantu watch continues…

That’s my principle.

Tim can be reached at tspeterson32@yahoo.com.          

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