By Alex Gonzalez
(San Gabriel) – Andy Guerrero threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as San Gabriel beat Schurr 21-10 to win the Almont League title Thursday night at San Gabriel High School.
It was a slow start for both The Spartans (3-7, 3-2) and the Matadors (6-4, 5-0) in the first quarter and it wasn’t until half way through the second, until the Spartans put three on the board with a field goal.
However, the Mats answered right back with a score of their own. Guerrero connected with wide out Alex Villalobos for a 35-yard strike before the break.
The Mats could have had added two more scores before half, but Guerrero fumbled once in the red zone and was picked off in the end zone.
“Bottom line, we just told him that he has to make plays. He’s so excited and pumped up he wants to make every play and we composed him, the plays will come to him and he does not have to make the big play but the smart play,” said SG HC Jude Oliva.
After intermission San Gabriel got the ball back, and went to work right away. Guerrero led the offense with his passing and running down the field before connecting with Villalobos for a 21-yard pass for a touchdown. The Mats now led 14-3.
Guerrero added insurance when he ran it in for a score in the fourth, putting SG up 21-3.
With the game getting out of reach for the Spartans did not give up. Running back Eric Magos punched it in from six yards out, making the game 21-10.
The Spartans attempted the onside kick, they were penalized for kicking the ball out of bounds.
On their following possession, the Matadors were forced to punt, giving the Spartans another shot to score, but defensive coordinator Donald Bernard’s unit stepped up and forced Schurr quarterback Rudy Madrid to throw his third interception of the night.
“Once again they [defense] stepped up. Hats off to my defensive coordinator and his staff, they work hard every day,” said Oliva “It’s an old saying, you can’t win a championship wit out defense and once again they stepped up big especially when we weren’t getting it done in the first half.”
With non-league and league seasons completed, the Matadors await Sunday when the brackets come out and the start of the third season.
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