By Corey Kwok
(Citrus College) – Joseph Herrera had 20 carries for 131 yards and two scores to lead Gladstone to a 21-6 victory over Bassett in Montview League play Thursday night.
Jerry Gutierrez recovered a fumble at the Bassett six yard line and Gladstone immediately scored on the following play. Then the Gladiators recovered the ensuing onside kick and found the end zone again eight plays later. Herrera capped his three touchdown night by taking an inside shovel from quarterback Andres Uribe for 15 yards to forge a 21-6 Gladiator lead. He also had 33 more yards on receptions.
Herrera’s three first half scores proved to be all Gladstone needed to overcome numerous penalties and a stingy Bassett defense. With the win G-Stone still has a shot at the Montview crown.
They host Duarte next Friday and then get red hot Azusa in the annual Clash for the Canyon to close out the regular season.
After Herrera struck first for Gladstone from 6 out with 2:23 to play in the opening stanza, the Olympians responded. Bassett pinned the Gladiators at their own eight with a first and 31. Raymond Pena then intercepted Uribe at the 39. That eventually led to Yahir Garcia scoring eight plays later from eight yards out to tie the game at 6-6.
Pena (Raymond) negated a potential Gladstone touchdown with another pick deep downfield at the 10, but Bassett fumbled it away to the Gladiators.
Herrera took advantage with a six yard TD run for his second touchdown. He then safely completed the two point conversion to make it 14-6 G-Stone with 3:45 in the second.
Neither team scored in the second half as the Olympian defense halted the Gladiators twice in the red zone, first at the 17 before pushing them back there again from the 7.
But G-Stone’s defensive tackle Gutierrez struck again to record a clinching 9 yard sack of Bassett quarterback Robert Rodriguez with 3:05 left in the contest to nail it down. Gladstone took over on downs stopping an Olympian march 26 yards short of a touchdown.
Rodriguez completed 7 of 12 passes for 68 yards through a rough Gladstone secondary that was flagged four times for pass interference. His favorite target was Pena (Raymond), who he went to for all but 1 toss – a 12 yarder to Raul Osorio.
Pena (Raymond), Bassett’s chief corner and defensive back, finished the night with two interceptions, four pass blocks, and nine tackles. His brother Michael Pena came up with another 11 tackles and led all Olympian rushers, with 38 yards on 11 carries. He had a 26 yard jaunt early in the game.
Bassett 0 6 0 0 6
Gladstone 6 15 0 0 21
1st Qtr
2:23 – G Joseph Herrera 8yd run, extra point failed (fumbled snap)
2nd Qtr
6:46 – B Yahir Garcia 8yd run, Manuel Gonzalez extra point failed (wide right)
3:45 – G Herrera 6yd run, Herrera 2 point conversion run scored
1:03 – G Andres Uribe 15yd pass to Herrera, Christian Lopez extra point scored
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