Aaron Cantu and the ELAC Football team were honored at Monterey Park City Hall Tuesday night
By Jehu Cantu
(Monterey Park) – What looked to be improbable if not impossible just a few short months ago, the East Los Angeles Huskies football team was honored at City Hall Tuesday night.
There had been many moons since the Huskie football program last won a conference title in 1974. If the beginning of the 2011 football season was any indication, it would be many more. In fact, the team started with three losses in the first four games.
Now, the sun is shining bright once again on this proud program. The Huskies reeled off seven consecutive wins to close the season with an 8-3 record, capturing a conference title and an American Division Championship Bowl win along the way.
Credit has to go to so many people. From Al Cone the AD, to Lynn Cain the HC, to the players themselves for sticking through it and not folding like a deck of cards.
Also worth mentioning, the assistant coaches, that have literally been the glue to this Huskies football team. Steven Mojarro the Offensive Line coach and Nick Garrett the OC practically live in their offices trying to better the program one day at a time.
To reiterate, the 2011 football season started out rough for the Huskies.
A blowout loss to L.A. Valley, followed by a double overtime loss to Santa Monica left the Huskies at 0-2 right off the bat.
ELAC then played Glendale and got a taste of a blowout win in the third game.
Then came a matchup with College of the Canyons. The game was close in the first half, but the second half revealed that ELAC was not yet ready to compete with the big dogs. Still, there were positives from that game that the team would build on.
If there was a turning point to the season, there’s no doubt it would have to be game five vs. Antelope Valley College. Aaron Cantu (Schurr) took the quarterback reins that night by passing for four touchdowns and running for another in leading the Huskies to a 35-28 road victory.
The Huskies then proceeded to cruise through the American Mountain Conference with a perfect 5-0 mark, securing the conference bowl berth.
The stage was set for a rematch with Santa Monica, only this time it was at their house. The Huskies proved right the theory that it’s down right tough to beat a team twice in a season. ELAC won the rematch 42-28.
As a fan and a parent, the biggest thing I took away from the 2011 season was the relationships developed between the kids, the staff and the fan base. I saw young men seemingly from every geographical area come together as one unit to accomplish what others said could not be done.
Now the attention turns to recruiting players to join the Huskie family. Carlos Arredondo (Schurr) and Aaron Cantu recruited each other to play at ELAC last year. The result? ELAC was the #2 total offense (So Cal JUCOs) averaging 463 yards per game.
How do they feel about getting other talented players to join the Huskie family?
“There isn’t a reason why ELAC shouldn’t be the local destination for area football players to continue their education. It’s a great environment,” Cantu said. “Other local JUCOs love to bring in and stockpile out of state talent but I say we have all we need right here in our back yard,” added Arredondo.
Stayed tuned….
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION 2011 POSTSEASON AWARDS:
AMERICAN DIVISION | MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Cantu*, East Los Angeles (QB, 6’3″, 215, Fr.) (Schurr)
Coach of the Year: Lynn Cain, East Los Angeles
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE (* denotes unanimous selection)
OC Alberto Perez* East Los Angeles 6’0″ 270 Fr. (Schurr)
OG Caesar Aguilar* East Los Angeles 6’1″ 265 So (Garfield)
OT Carlos Lozano* East Los Angeles 6’8″ 360 So. (Montebello)
WR Carlos Arredondo* East Los Angeles 6’3″ 205 So. (Schurr)
RB Preston Oliver East Los Angeles 6’2″ 225 Fr. (Marshall)
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE (*denotes unanimous selection)
DT Chris Floyd* East Los Angeles 6’2″ 280 So. (Monrovia)
DE Guillermo Duran* East Los Angeles 6’2″ 250 So. (Whittier)
ILB Hector Cazales* East Los Angeles 6’0″ 215 Fr. (Garfield)
OLB Joel Green East Los Angeles 6’1″ 215 So. (Jefferson)
CB Nasir Moore* East Los Angeles 6’2″ 195 So.
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