By Josh Ouellette
(Whittier) Whittier Christian was submerged by Esperanza and running back Troy Poole’s 330 yards rushing and six touchdowns as the Aztecs took the season opener between the schools 49-34.
The Heralds, Mid-Valley Division finalists in 2010, started with all guns blazing. New starting quarterback Daniel Chacon chucked the ball 55 times, completing 33 with two touchdown and three interceptions.
The first half was measured by the teams trading drives and scoring blows, the Aztecs with a stable balance of the run, Poole, and the passing of Mark Tumlinson.
While the Heralds drove the field hitting Grant Escobar at steady pace through the air and letting Jonathan Marquez pound it in from a yard out for the first score. WC’s second score came on a six yard pass from Chacon to Cody Bronkar.
The score at the half was Esperanza 24, Whittier Christian 14
The second half brought the Heralds as close as they were going to get with Chacon hitting his favorite target, Escobar, five times for 36 yards on the drive. Escobar finished the night with 137 yards receiving and over 200 all-purpose yards.
The Aztec’s pinballed back, scoring quickly, thanks to a 53-yard touchdown pass from Tumlinson to Nick Catalano.
Two straight Herald drives ending in interceptions led to Esperanza taking possession at their own 24. All it took was one play for the MVP of the night, Poole, to take it 76 yards to paydirt and the score 36-20 in favor of the Aztecs.
Whittier Christian stayed in the game with a few late surges, including a 30-yard touchdown toss from Chacon to Andrew Garcia on a fourth and 18.
After the game the Heralds Head Coach Sergio Gradilla said, “We knew coming into the game they’d be big up-front, and stopping the run is going to be a major thing we have to do this season.”
Next week W.C. will hit the road next week and try to right the ship against Riverside’s Notre Dame. Esperanza will get to go back home and will face Santa Ana.
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