Lions quarterback Manuel Santa Cruz fired five touchdown passes against SEM.
By George Hernandez
(El Monte) El Monte quarterback Manuel Santa Cruz caught fire and threw five touchdown passes in the Lions 49-13 win over South El Monte Friday night at El Monte High School.
Santa Cruz started on the third play of the game he found Memo Silva to a 18-yard touchdown pass to jump out to an early 7-0 lead.
The Eagles had a three and out but they stepped up on defense when Saul Busto jump in front of a Santa Cruz pass and took it to the house to tie the game up at 7-7.
Santa Cruz didn’t waste any time giving the Lions back the lead when he hit a wide open Connor Salazar for a 20-yard touchdown catch to put them back up 14-7.
El Monte’s defense was too much for South El Monte and didn’t let them pass midfield in the second quarter. Santa Cruz stayed hot the second quarter finding Silva and Michael Jimenez to give the Lions a three score lead at 28-7.
Jimenez got into the end zone on the ground in the second quarter when he ran it in from 15-yards out to give EL Monte a 35-7 halftime lead.
Lions came in the second half put the ball on the ground with Jimenez and he found the end zone from 21-yards out to put up El Monte 42-7 early in the third quarter.
The Eagles got on the board again in the third quarter when safety Gabriel Amaya picked off a Santa Cruz pass. Then the first play from scrimmage Henry Mascorro found a wide open Ray Nativadad to two point attempted failed the score stood at 42-13.
Santa Cruz put the ball in the air one last time in the third quarter and found Jimenez for a 29-yard touchdown pass to make it 49-13.
Jimenez finished with 90-yards rushing and 70-yards receiving. Santa Cruz went 13 of 16 for 296-yards and 5-touchdown along with 2-interceptions. Salazar and Silva combined for 165-yards receiving a 3-touchdowns.
Jimmy Martinez, Brian Aguilar, and Frankie Venagas played tough on both sides the ball. (Moscow) finished 6 of 18 for 59-yards and a touchdown pass well splitting time with Amaya. Jorge Garcia had 5-catches and 68-yards.
El Monte (4-4, 3-0) tries to keep the league title hopes alive next week when they face Arroyo. South El Monte (1-7, 0-3) will face Rosemead.