MidValleySports.Com

Bell Gardens Bad Dude: Sophomore LB Erick Galicia

(Montebello)- Bell Gardens allowed 52 and 46 points in losses earlier this year and scored 36 and 30 in victories. Montebello gave up 40 and 57 points while losing but also racked up 34 and was coming off a 48-41 overtime win over San Gabriel. So everybody knew what to expect in Friday night’s Almont showdown right? Of course, only one touchdown is scored in a defensive struggle as Bell Gardens shuts out the Oilers 7-0.

“If you would have asked me in the middle of the week if one touchdown would be enough I would have said no way,” said Bell Gardens Coach David Ramos.

But it was that was needed as the Lancers scored on their first possession and made it stand up. Jordan Preciado intercepted Montebello quarterback Matt Saenz and returned it to midfield on the first series of the game. Bell Gardens then used 15 plays to get in the end zone. Charles Ontiveros capped the drive with a one yard keeper with 1:01 left in the first quarter. Jorge Remigio did the bulk of the work on the ground. And that was it.

Well there were other big plays, but as far as the scoring,that was it.

While BG kept the ball on the ground through out the contest, Montebello tried to air it out. The Lancers accumulated 238 yards rushing with Remigio gaining 132 on 25 carries.

Montebello only ran the ball nine times. Saenz finished the game 19 of 40 for 237 yards and an interception but no touchdowns.

“We came into the game knowing there were going to throw some deep outs and some fades. We said let’s stop the fades, rally to the outs and we did that the entire game,” Ramos said. “We were really surprised. We thought they would try to establish the run a little but but whatever they saw they thought they could throw the ball and they kept doing it. But our kids defensively really stepped up.”

Montebello had an opportunity to score late in the second quarter,  but a 38 yard field goal attempt fell short.

A fumble cut short a BG early in the third quarter and in the fourth a Montebello punt and a penalty left the Lancers at their own nine yard line. With Remigio and Ramiro Suarez effectively pounding the ball, they moved the ball down to the Montebello one yard line where they had a fourth and goal.

BG initially ran the field goal team out but after a time out they decided to go for it. But quarterback Charles Ontiveros fumbled and the Oliers pounced on it in the endzone for a touchback. Not only did the Lancers not score but Montebello got the ball at the 20.

“Yeah someone has to fire the head coach for not kicking the field goal down here,” Ramos joked. “We tried to wedge it and he never had the ball on the snap. We’ve had that problem all year. We have to finish those.”

Saenz then hit on big pass plays to Marcus Portillo and Gilbert Herrera and the Oilers moved the ball down to the Lancer nine yard line. On fourth and goal Herrera caught a Saenz pass but he was out of the end zone with 42 seconds left and the Lancers held.

BG proceeded to run out the clock from there.

Suarez rushed for 46 yards on seven carries while Julian Romero added 33 on two for Bell Gardens.

Portillo and Herrera combined for 13 catches for 169 yards for Montebello however it wasn’t enough to beat the Lancer D.

Guys like Gerardo Coronel, Justin Galvan and Preciado in the secondary, Erick Galicia and Adam Alvarado in the middle and Abel Juarez and David Flores up front all made an impact. They bent but didn’t break, were pushed but shoved back and in the end earned the win.

“They did it when they had to in certain situations and one touchdown was enough,” Ramos said.

Bell Gardens improved to 3-0 in the Almont League and 6-2 overall. Montebello is 2-1 and 5-3.

BG 7  0  0  0      0

M   0  0  0  0      0