Peter Aholoka scores three times to pace the Knights
(Rosemead) The Arroyo Knights drew one step closer to a Mission Valley League title while at the same time putting a dent in the playoff hopes of the Rosemead Panthers with a come from behind 28-21 victory Friday night at Rod Marinelli Stadium.
After dropping a league game earlier this season to the El Monte Lions, the Panthers knew that to assure their post season aspirations a win against Arroyo was almost a must.
Early on it appeared that Rosemead was well on their way to a victory when Matt Eddy scored on a three yard run to put the Panthers in the lead 7-0. The touchdown was set up when a bad snap flew over the head of Knight quarterback Steven Rivera and was recovered by Rosemead at the Arroyo five.
With 10:13 left in the second stanza, the Panthers pushed their lead to 14-0 on a 16-yard run by Eddy. Eddy finished the night gaining 200 yards on 36 carries with the two scores.
Arroyo got on the board two minutes later as Rivera lead his team on a seven play 64 yard drive that was capped by Peter Aholoka getting the call on a seven yard run.
Midway through the second quarter, the Knights knotted the score on a 47 yard bomb from Rivera to Hunter Duran. The Panther’s Mike Chavez had inside position on the play and appeared to knock the pass away. The ball flew back over Chavez and into the waiting arms of Duran who then made his way to paydirt.
The Panthers came out of the break to regain the lead with 6:49 left in the third period. Steven San Miguel took the kick off to open the second half and raced out to the Rosemead 49. Nine plays later it was Christian Garcia who got the call and scored on a two yard run.
The Panther defense stepped up and held the Knight offense scoreless for the remainder of the third.
With a couple of minutes gone in the final frame, Rosemead went on a drive looking to put Arroyo away for the evening. Starting out at there own 18, the Panthers only needed three plays to get into Knight territory. On their fourth play Garcia looked to get around the edge only to have Rivera pick his pocket and head the other way. Rivera was knocked out of bounds at the Rosemead 28 but Arroyo was in business deep in Panther territory. Three plays later Aholoka punched the ball across the goal line on a one yard dive. The extra point was good and the Knights were even again.
The ensuing kick off left Rosemead in decent field position at their own 36.The Panthers began a seven play gridiron march that would eventually come down to a huge decision with fourth and four at the Arroyo 30. Eddy got the call and knifed his way toward the first down. The Knight defense came through and held Eddy short by the length of a football.
It was now Rivera’s turn to piece together a go ahead drive and complete the comeback. He did just that leading a nine play 72-yard scoring drive. Aholoka went in from three yards out to complete the drive.
Aholoka gained just 42 yards on nine carries but three of those carries went for touchdowns.
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