Nick Bueno runs his way into another semi-final
(Monrovia) The Monrovia Wildcats and the Schurr Spartans battled for four quarters with the Wildcats coming out on top 21-7 Friday night in the second round of the Mid-Valley Division playoffs.
The two teams played like they were well prepared for each other fighting and keeping Aaron Cantu for Schurr and Nick Bueno for Monrovia in check for the entire first quarter.
With 11:34 left in the second stanza the Wildcats were the first team to put point on the board. Christian Blanco found a seam in the Spartan defense for 25-yards and the only score of the first half. The score was set up by a Schurr fumble that was recovered by the Wildcat’s Andrew Plasencia at the Spartan 44.
Monrovia got the ball to start the second half and went on a 4 play 72-yard drive taking only 1:07 off the clock.. A pass interference penalty on the drive set the Wildcats up deep in Spartan territory a the 24-yard line. Bueno did the rest covering the 24-yards on the next play to put Monrovia up two touchdowns. Bueno finished the evening carrying the ball 18 times for 133-yards and the lone score on the ground and completing four of eight passes for 45 yards.
The Spartan offensive line did a solid job protecting Cantu most of the game but mental mistakes cost them dearly. On fourth and three at the Wildcat 37, Cantu and Alejandro Castro connected on what appeared to be a 37-yard touchdown strike. The score was called back on a penalty for ineligible receiver down field.
The Schurr defense held the potent Monrovia defense in check for the remainder of the third period even forcing a turnover on downs to halt a 10 play Wildcat drive.
The Spartan’s third turnover of the game proved to be costly as a Cantu pass from his own one yard line went off the hands of Chris Jordan and into the waiting arms of Plasencia. Plasencia covered the15 yards untouched for Monrovia’s final score of the evening.
With time winding down in the game, Cantu led his team on a seven play scoring drive that covered 62-yards. Cantu found Chris Chairomonte on a quick hitter for three yards and the touchdown. Cantu finished the night and his high school career going 26 of 40 for 243-yards and the lone touchdown.
After the game Monrovia HC Ryan Maddox commented on the game and his teams performance. “That’s a good football team over there (Schurr). They played really good defense and tried to take away our threats on offense so we had to make adjustments. It was a big drive to start the second half and the kids came through. I gotta give hats off to our defense they played lights out and only gave up that late touchdown.”
The Mid Valley’s thoughts and prayers go out to the Spartan’s Abraham Gonzalez and family as Gonzalez was seriously injured during the game
Monrovia will make their third straight semi-final appearance in a rematch of last years Mid-Valley Division Final as they travel to San Dimas to take on the Saints.
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