Alham's James Martin struggles for yardage as Montebello's Angel Piedra (21) and George Trejo (60) close in. (Photo by Caleb Dennis)
By Josh Ouellette
(Alhambra)- Alhambra scored first, but not again and lost 17-7 to visiting Montebello.
The Oilers threatened late in the first quarter but were stalled by the Moor defense in the red zone. When Montebello went to kick it was blocked by the Moors line ending the threat.
Both teams exchanged punts until the 3:14 mark in the second when Alhambra broke through with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Joshua Mendoza to the fullback Jason Yrigollen.
On Montebello’s ensuing possession starting running back Marcus Owens was ejected from the game on a questionable call of a flagrant personal foul. When asked after the game Head Coach Pete Gonzalez simply said about the play, “We’ll have to go back and look at the film to see what happened.”
The Oilers rallied back on the drive and capped it off with :36 seconds left in the half on a eight yard loft to the back of the end zone to Dylan Gomez for the equalizing score.
Alhambra started with the ball at the 30 after the score, but on the first play Mendoza was picked off by Montebello’s Gabriel Cardenas and returned to the 15-yard line. A late hit penalty brought the ball down to the eight yard line of the Moors.
After an incomplete pass on the first play Montebello gave Alhambra the slip with a draw play to Johnny Salinas who took it to paydirt giving the Oilers a 14-7 lead going into the half.
When Alhambra started with the ball in the second they were unable to move down the field and were forced to punt after all of the third quarter.
On Montebello’s first possession the drive stalled in the redzone again. This time around Eric Guevara lined up for a 32-yard field goal attempt and nailed it to give the Oilers some breathing room with the 10 point lead.
Alhambra began moving the ball with 8:45 in the fourth quarter, working its way into the redzone. On the first and ten pass from the Montebello 17-yard line Mendoza met his nemesis from the first half in Cardenas who intercepted his second pass ending the Moors best threat of the half.
The Moors got one last chance with 1:50 on the clock but couldn’t score before time ran out.
Montebello improved to 3-5 and 2-1 in the Almont. The Oilers will play away Schurr next week in a game that could make or break their playoff chances.
Alhambra falls to 4-4 and 1-2 in the Almont. The Moors will stay at home and take on San Gabriel.
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