Joe Sanchez's pick six secures Griffin Bowl trophy
(South El Monte)- Lions linebacker Joe Sanchez picked off Eagles quarterback Fernando Ramirez’ pass and returned it 30-yards for a touchdown with 22-seconds left on the clock to give El Monte a 20-13 win over South El Monte Friday night at “The Swamp”.
“If this was a team in years past we would have folded down 13-7 in the fourth but not this year,” said El Monte HC Joel Sanchez. “We fought back and now we’ve made the playoffs.”
Juan Ceballos catches game tying touchdown pass from Martinez
The Eagles struck first in the second quarter when Ramirez got the ball just over a Lions defender and into the hands of tightend Jimmy Martinez and he took it 75-yards for a to paydirt.
Finally just before the fourth quarter Brandon Martinez marched El Monte on a 99-yard drive and capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown dive to tie it at 7-7.
After a three and out for South El Monte it looked like the Lions were on their way for another drive until Martinez’ pass was picked off by Eric Garcia and he took it to the house from 65-yards out to make it 13-7 after a missed extra point.
Both teams exchanged punts and with 43-seconds on the clock, Martinez hit Juan Ceballos in stride to make it 13-13 after the extra point was tipped at the line.
Brandon Martinez and Byran Luevano got it done on the ground for the Lions
In what looked like it would be one last drive for South to win the game in regulation Ramirez dropped back for a deep pass but was drilled by the Lions Adam Campos and the throw fell short right into he arms of El Monte’s Sanchez and he took it 36-yards to the endzone to give the Lions a 20-13 lead.
Henry Mascorro finished the game under center for the Eagles and completed a catch and toss pass to Jesus and Javier Machuca for 35-yards but four incompletions later the game was over.
El Monte (7-2, 4-0) travels to Arroyo trying to win its first league title since 1979 and South El Monte (6-3, 2-2) plays Rosemead trying to keep it’s playoff hopes alive with a at-large bid.
Martinez finished 14 of 20 for 199-yards one touchdown and three picks. He also rushed for 47 yards. Memo Silva 7-catches for 78-yards. Andrew Diaz and Gus Betancur both had picks.
Ramirez finished 6 of 16 for 157-yards he also had one touchdown pass and three picks. Leo Artiaga had 116-yards on the ground for the Southmen and Martinez had 3-catches for 95-yards. Pablo Ocegueda and Alex Acosta had picks on defense for the Eagles.
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