By Tony Solorzano
(Whittier) – A turnover-plagued performance did not stop California High from staying undefeated as they took advantage of three interceptions to nearly shut out Schurr, 27-7 Thursday night at Whittier District Field.
It wasn’t exactly a pretty win for the Condors (4-0, 0-0) as they dealt with four drives getting stopped with fumbles by the Spartan (0-4, 0-0) defense. The performance was especially bothersome to Cal head coach Jim Arnold.
“We’re going to need to go back to the drawing board again,” Said Arnold after the game. “I’ve got running backs who want to fight for one more yard standing up and they get stripped.”
The Condors coughed up the ball once in the second and third quarters, and twice in the fourth, which killed two drives that would have put the game away. Leading rusher Manny Espinosa fumbled the ball three times, including one that was returned to the Cal 44 with 9:29 left in the game, while Chris Reyes coughed up the ball in the second quarter.
The Condors’ offense got on the baord after Spartans quarterback Sal Chavez was picked off by Nick Mele inside the Cal 20-yard line and returned it close to mid-field. Six plays later, kicker Eric Amezquita put the Condors on the board with a 37-yard field goal with 3:31 left in the quarter.
On the next possession, the Spartans were driving as the quarter expired. But on the first play of the second quarter, their ninth play of their drive, Chavez was picked off by Bryan Limon at the Cal 20 and returned the ball 80 yards for the touchdown. The Condors would get on the board again as Amezquita kicked another field goal, this one from 26 yards out with 1:02 left in the half.
In the third quarter, Chris Loera closed out the quarter with a two-yard score that capped a 12-play drive with 6.3 seconds left in the third. The Spartans finally got on the board as they capitalized on Espinosa’s third fumble as Chavez hit Jose Aguero on a 21-yard throw with 4:53 left in the game. However, on the ensuing possession, Castro improvised on a bootleg and rushed 38 yards for the final score with 2:02 left.
Castro threw only three passes for 64 yards, but rushed eight times for 80 yards, including his 38-yard touchdown. Espinosa rushed 23 times for 87 yards, while Julio Arce caught two of Castro’s three passes for 55 yards. Chavez completed 17 of 42 passes for 208 yards, scored the one touchdown but gave up three interceptions. Ricardo Fonseca led the Spartan receivers with eight catches for 90 yards.
The Condors end their non-league season next Friday in Downey as they take on the Warren Bears while the Spartans return to Whittier District Field to take on the surprising Whitter Cardinals.
SCHURR 0 0 0 7 — 7
CALIFORNIA 3 10 7 7 — 27
1ST Quarter
CAL 3-0 @3:31 – Kevin Amezquita 36-FG
2ND Quarter
CAL 10-0 @11:40 – Brian Limon 80 INT Return, Amezquita kick
CAL 13-0 @1:02 – Amezquita 27 FG
3RD Quarter
CAL 20-0 @0:06.3 – Chris Loera 2 Run Amezquita kick
4TH Quarter
SCHURR 7-27 @4:53 – Jose Aquero 21 Pass from Sal Chavez, Ricardo Fonseca kick
CAL 27-7 @2:02 – Drew Castro 38 Run, Amezquita kick
Scoring summary courtesy Corey Kwok
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