Montebello Takes Almont Opener
By Saile Ramirez
(Montebello)-The Montebello Oilers snuck a victory past the San Gabriel Matadors Friday night, 27-26.
“It was just a fantastic game,” said Oiler head coach Pete Gonzalez. “That’s what football is about two teams going out playing hard till the very end until the last second.”
Down six points the Montebello offense came on the field with just a little over two minutes left. Quarterback Fernando Hoffens completed five straight passes covering the length of the field.
Early in the drive the Matadors defense aided the Oilers when they were called for a personal foul penalty. With seconds remaining in the game Hoffens faked a give to the fullback and found Dylan Gomez in the back endzone and the Montebello victory.
“It’s a tough loss,” explained Matador coach Jude Oliva. “But a huge learning experience.”
Montebello was the first to score when they capitalized on an Andy Guerrero fumble that was recovered deep in San Gabriel territory.
The drive consisted of only runs behind Oiler running back Michael Aguilar who scored from four yards out, giving his team a 6-0 lead.
SG’s Matthew Tafoya scooped up a Aguilar fumble early in the second quarter to set his team up at the Montebello 25. The Oiler defense would hold the Mats to just a field goal attempt.
Gilmar Tenes set up for what seemed like a chip shot field goal. Tenes’ kick was blocked. The ball landed in the hands of Matador linemen Chris Perez who rumbled six yards into the end zone. Tenes converted the ensuing point after.
Both teams traded interceptions on their next two drives.
With a minute left in the first half SG’s Guerrero found receiver Andres Fernandez down field for a long 50-yard reception. The pass set up a Tenes 40-yard field goal.
The Oilers started their first drive of the second half deep inside their own ten-yard-line. After two straight incomplete passes by Hoffens, they were forced to punt. On the ensuing punt the ball was snapped well over punter Juan Hernandez’s head and out of the back of the endzone giving San Gabriel a safety.
With the momentum behind the visiting Matadors Guerrero again connected with Fernandez for a 39-yard pitch and catch. Now on the one-yard line, after a five-yard Arthur Brown run, Guerrero snuck his way into the end zone giving his team a 19-6 lead.
The Oilers looking to get back into the game put together a nine-play scoring drive that was assisted by a 15-yard personal foul penalty by the SG defense. Hoffens connected with George Romo cutting the lead down to six.
As in the first half, Montebello capitalized on a Matador fumbled snap and had running back Marcus Owens score from three yards out, giving them a one point lead.
After a 12 play scoreless drive that ended with a missed Tenes field goal, SG looked to stop the Oilers one more time. The defense held the home team to a fourth and three with less than five minutes left in the game. Hernandez bobbled the snap and had his punt blocked by SG’s Fernandez. Joey Villalobos scooped the ball up and ran in from 27-yards out to again give the Matadors the lead.
Montebello, almost un-phased, put the game in the hands of Hoffens who delivered in the clutch.
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