Aaron Salgado rushed for West Covina's first two scores to get things started
(Hacienda Heights) – West Covina racked up over 300 yards on the ground on its way to a 42-24 rout of Los Altos Friday night in Hacienda League action.
It was 42-10 early in the fourth quarter before West Covina Coach Mike Maggiore emptied his bench and the Conquerors scored two late touchdowns to make it a little more respectable. But make no mistake it was all West Covina from the opening kickoff.
“We came out and played hard. I was a little disappointed that out backups gave up a couple touchdowns but our number ones were really ready to go,” Maggiore said.
The running attack was devastating as the Bulldogs kept coming at Los Altos with different backs.
Aaron Salgado got the first West Co score with a one yard run on the first possession. The touchdown was set up by a 45 yard pass play from Chris Caballero to Chris Solomon.
Salgado got his second TD of the night on the next series. This time he rumbled in from 13 yards out to cap 51 yard drive for a 14-0 lead.
Los Altos came up with a big play on its next possession. Shane Virnala found Scott Tibbs behind the West Covina secondary and hit him in stride for a 66 yard touchdown. The score only seemed to make the Bulldogs mad.
They scored on their next two series. First Josh Best finished a time consuming 16 play drive in the second quarter with an 18 yard touchdown run.
Late in the quarter, West Covina struck quick when Caballero connected with Lonzell Barnett in the first play of the series for an 89 yard score and the Dogs took a 28-7 lead in into the half.
They picked up right where they left off in the third with an 83 yard, seven play march. Jimmy Frazier got loose for a 44 yard score as he outran the LA secondary down the near sideline.
After a Juan Sanchez 31 yard field goal for Los Altos Best scored again early in the fourth on a 19 yard run to ice it. It was 42-10 and Maggiore cleared his bench.
Salgado finished with 14 carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Frazier had 16 for 77 and a score and Solomon carried the ball 13 times for 102 yards. Best had two touchdowns and 60 yards rushing.
“There’s really no secret as to what we do,” Maggiore said. “We like to pound the ball. Our offensive line played well.”
Antonio “Noodles” Hull, West Covina’s highly touted freshman, got in some snaps in the fourth quarter. He had a carry for four yards and threw an incomplete pass. On Hull’s first play from scrimmage he handed the ball to Best who did the rest on his 19 yard TD jaunt.
Late in the fourth Justin Fa’aola had a 68 yard touchdown run for Los Altos and Virnala hit Christian Palacios for a 60 yard scoring toss. Fa’aola rushed for 112 yards on 11 carries.
West Covina improved to 4-0 in league and 7-1 overall while Los Altos dropped to 2-3 and 6-3 overall.
WC 14 14 7 7 42
LA 7 0 3 14 24
1st Qtr:
WC 8:43 Salgado 1 yd run( Rios Kick)
WC 2:11 Salgado 13 yd run (Rios Kick)
LA Tibbs 66 yd pass from Virnala (Sanchez Kick)
2nd Qtr:
WC 4:44 Best 18 yd run (Rios Kick)
WC 2:54 Barnett 89 yd pass from Caballero (Rios Kick)
3rd Qtr:
WC 9:13 Frazier 44 yd run (Rios Kick)
LA 3:13 Sanchez 31 yd FG
4th Qtr:
WC 11:54 Best 19 yd run (Rios Kick)
LA 8:19 Fa’aola 68 yd run (Sanchez Kick)
LA 5:44 Palacios 60 yd pass from Virnala (Sanchez Kick)
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