Brandon Taylor looks for room to roam
By Duane Barker
(Pomona) The Diamond Ranch Panthers made school history Friday night with a resounding 35-20 win over the Muir Mustangs with the chants “D’ What…D’Ranch” resounding through the stadium at Ganesha High School.
For a team that was the runner up in the Southeast Division in 2008 history came as the Panthers won their season opener for the first time.
Diamond Ranch got on the board first needing only four plays to cover 85 yards highlighted by a 10 yard out from Gus Viramontes that Brandon Taylor turned into a 50 yard score. Taylor had a big night grabbing six passes for 131 yards and a score.
“We had to hold them back and hold them back and couldn’t let them go in practice due to the smoke. We finally released them tonight and jumped out early and then got a little sloppy” commented Head Coach Roddy Latyon after the game.
The Panthers got two more scores in the first half on a 23 yard run by Amari Statten and a 52 yard score when Viramontes hooked up with Elijah Henley. Viramontes went on to finish the evening hitting on 11 of 18 for 279 yards and two touchdowns.
The Diamond Ranch did their part as well in the first half holding the high powered Mustang offense scoreless.
Muir turned things around in the second half and got the ball moving. With 4:31 left in the 3rd quarter, Eddie Tripp capped a 6 play 71 yard drive with a 3 yard run. Kevon Seymour punched across the two point conversion and the Mustangs trailed 21-8.
The Panther’s Jacoby Carter answered the Muir score with a two yard touchdown of his own putting Diamond Ranch back up 28-8.
The Mustangs got to within eight on a 22 yard touchdown from Jarron Williams to Karl Holmes Jr. and a 3 yard run by Williams. Williams looked to pick up where he left off last season going 9 for 12 for 134 yard and a touchdown both through the air and on the ground.
Viramontes capped the scoring for the night on an 8 yard run.
Diamond Ranch will be back at home next Friday night to take on Colony while Muir travels to West Lake Village to take on high powered Oaks Christian.
Scoring:
DR – 14 07 07 07
Muir- 00 00 08 12
1st Qtr 10:47 DR Taylor 50yds from Viramontes (Stamp kick)
4:14 DR Statten 23yd run (Stamp kick)
2nd Qtr 2:44 DR Henley 52yds from Viramontes (Stamp kick)
3rd Qtr 4:31 Muir Tripp 3yd run (Seymour 2pt conv.)
2:27 DR Carter 2yd run (Stamp kick)
4th Qtr 11:53 Muir Holmes Jr. 22yds from Williams (2pt conv. failed)
9:57 Muir Williams 3yd run (2pt conv. failed)
7:15 DR Viramontes 8yd run (Stamp kick)
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