By Tony Solorzano
(Bellflower) – A 59-yard touchdown by Jerry Smith help the Mayfair Monsoons advance to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section’s Southeast Division playoffs with a convincing 35-27 win over the Burroughs Indians Friday night at Ron Yary Stadium.
The Monsoons (8-4) overcame two leads by the Indians (7-5) in the first quarter before finally taking control in the third, thanks to leading rusher Jason Logologo’s two touchdowns, and also overcoming three touchdown throws by Indians quarterback Lucas Yanez.
The first quarter looked like the game would end up being a high-scoring shootout between the Indians’ Yanez and Mayfair’s Evan Hunko. Zack Meijer put the Indians on the board first, closing out the opening drive of the game with a four-yard run to give the Indians the early 7-0 lead.
The Monsoons would respond on their first drive as Logologo carried the ball six times in a nine-play drive that ended with Logologo scoring from a yard out, tying the game with 3:43 left in the quarter. Burroughs responded immediately on their next possession as Yanez needed only two passes, a 68-yard strike to Nick Brown that put the ball on the Monsoons’ 19-yard line and a 19-yard strike to Anthony Carter to retake the lead, 14-7, just 33 seconds after the previous score.
Again, the Monsoons responded on the ground, with Logologo and Aaron Brown sharing the rushing duties as they moved the ball 70 yards for the tying score, a one-yard punch by Brown with 45 seconds left in the quarter.
As the second quarter started, both defenses finally got into their rhythms, as neither team managed a score in the second. The Monsoons reached the Indians’ nine-yard line but turned the ball over on downs, but both teams ended up punting their respective drives for the remained of the half.
In the third, Mayfair started the half with the first possession and took full advantage by moving 70 yards as Logologo put the Monsoons ahead for the first time with a three-yard run with 7:23 left. On the ensuing possession, the Indians began to self-destruct as a 35-yard touchdown to Carter on fourth down was nullified by a personal foul penalty on the Indians, putting them at mid-field and forcing them to punt. However, the return was fumbled at the 24-yard line and Burroughs recovered. Yanez took advantage of the second chance and hit Nick Brown with a 24-yard touchdown. However, Cristobal Escobar’s point after attempt was blocked and the Monsoons held onto a precarious 21-20 lead late in the third.
In the fourth, it was all Mayfair as Jerry Smith, who had been sidelined with an injury, took a pitch from Hunko and went to the outside, streaming past Indian defenders on his way to his 59-yard touchdown run, giving the Monsoons an eight-point lead with 9:34 left in the game. Aaron Brown would score again, with just under three minutes left in the game as he closed out a 10-lay 73-yard drive with a four-yard score, giving the Monsoons the 35-20 lead.
Burroughs would have one last gasp as Yanez would connect on five of eight passes to move the Indians 65 yards in 11 plays, finding Carter in the back of the end zone from nine yards out, closing the gap to 35-27 with 26.5 seconds to play. On the ensuing kick, the Indians’ attempt at recovering an onside kick went too far and Mayfair recovered it, as Hunko took a knee to end the game.
Aaron Brown led the rushing for the Monsoons, carrying the ball 18 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns, while Logologo took the ball 23 times for 125 and two scores. Smith carried only three times but earned 91 yards and the touchdown. Hunko only three four passes for 46 yards but three of the four completions were for first downs. For the Indians, Tadeo Zuniga was the leading rusher, carrying 22 times for 76 yards/ Yanez was 11 for 18 for 197 yards and three touchdowns. Ironically, his brother, Tyler, only caught two passes for seven yards, while Nick Brown caught three passes for 118 yards and his score. Carter caught only three passes for 29 yards, but two were for touchdowns.
The Monsoons will host the Top-seeded West Covina Bulldogs on Friday night at Ron Yary Stadium for the opportunity to play for the Southeast Crown. Game time is tentatively scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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