By George Hernandez
(South El Monte)- Gladstone quarterback Paul Flores goes 12 of 24 for 179 yards, a touchdown pass and a big sack on defense to lead the Gladiators past El Monte 10-7 in a game that came down to the last second.
In a mostly a defensive contest Gladstone got on the board first with a 25 yard field goal from Javier Palomino with 2:55 left in the first half.
Sophomore quarterback Manuel Santa Cruz taking the place of Quang Phong threw the ball 35 times completing 20 for 244 yards. Santa Cruz led the Lions down the field midway through the third quarter and Carlos Gonzalez ran it in from six yards out from the wildcat formation. The extra point from Adrian Gonzalez was good and El Monte was up 7-3.
Gladiator running back Andrew Martinez beat up on the Lion defense in the fourth quarter, opening up the field for Flores to find Andres Uribe from 29 yards out to take a 10-7 lead. Martinez finished with 88 yards rushing.
Santa Cruz put El Monte on his back on the final drive finding open receiver after open receiver. He hit Memo Silva with a 43 yard strike to get in Gladiator territory. Santa Cruz then just missed throwing a touchdown pass to Eddie Landeros with only 14 seconds left. But Santa Cruz found Silva again for 5 yards on a fourth down with only five seconds left. On the last play for the Lions Santa Cruz threw a smooth touchdown pass to Steven Cabrera, but it was called no good when the refs called an illegal man down field, with one second left in the game El Monte turned over the ball on downs.
Silva was a standout catching the rock for El Monte eight times for 102 yards. Landeros had five catches for 80 yards. Cabrera also had an interception to lead the defense.
Helping out for Gladstone was reciever/defensive backs Jesse Rodriguez and Dyllan Duenas combining for eight catches and 85 yards. Both also played an outstanding defense with Duenas coming up with a pick. Uribe finished with two catches for 64 yards and an interception.
El Monte (0-3) will stay at home and play Baldwin Park next week. Gladstone (2-1) will stay on the road and travel to Sierra Vista.
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