Then KABC personality Bob Golic presents El Monte's Joel Sanchez with the "Coach of the Week" award.
The first four weeks of the 2004 season was special at El Monte.
They had a second year coach in Joel Sanchez, the Lions were 4-0, there was a swagger, and they were playing on campus for the first time in history.
Rolling back into the office each Friday night we joined the party. Our anthem for them in the newsroom was the old Nazareth song “Hair of the Dog” which featured the line;…’Now you’re messin with a son of a…!’
Quarterback Pedro Velasquez was young, but he was surrounded with talent. Running back Victor Piceno was on his way to a 700-yard season, and the receiving corps was first rate in Steve Librenjak, Raul Araiza, Mike Ortega, and the extremely talented Orlando Medina. Defensively Miguel Zarate, Anthony Chavez, Jerry Briseno, and Cesar Alvarez were all making plays.
After wandering in the football wilderness for five years the worm had turned. In 2004 there was expectation for a new power in the Mission Valley League to challenge the big three (Arroyo, Rosemead, Gabrielino) and we expected it to be El Monte.
Three straight wins to open the season was followed with a 10-0 victory on the road at La Serna. It was all systems go…and then Bob Golic came to town.
The former NFL veteran and Notre Dame alum rolled in with some checks, a plaque, and the KABC news crew. Joel Sanchez was named the “High School Coach of the Week”. We couldn’t believe it, this was happening at EMHS, the old alma mater.
Thursday night’s game at home against Bell Gardens was going to be the unveiling of the new era. Peterson, Barker, and myself were all there…then the wheels came off.
Lancer running back Alfredo Castenada scored five of his six touchdowns in the first half on the way to a 336-yard night. Including a 65-yard run to paydirt on the first play from scrimmage. It was brutal and everyone, with any feeling for El Monte football, could feel it. All the MVL coaches were watching in the stands as BG finished with a 49-7 victory.
Even after getting a nasty notification from the district offices that I wasn’t to refer to on campus facility at EMHS as “Jack Barton Field”, we still were keeping the faith. This will make the Lions sharper heading into league we thought.
No dice.
They fell to Gabrielino 20-0 a week later and went on to go 0-5 in MVL play. The Week Ten loss to View was the Vikings first league victory since October 16, 1998. After 33-consecutive MVL losses, Frank Alonzo won his final game 23-21 over the Lions.
This was not a 4-6 team, I blame Golic. The loss to BG, from my removed position, seemed to suck all the life out of this team. This was a good team. Golic, the Notre Damer, Golic, the Cleveland Brown, Golic, the Raider brought them down.
Some final notes, Pedro “Pete” Velasquez is now the starting quarterback at ELAC. They never have officially named the on campus football stadium at El Monte, and the new power in the MVL turned out to be South El Monte as Gabrielino fell into decline.
Last Note: La Serna, who the Lions shutout in Week Four, went to Bell Gardens in round one of CIF and beat BG 49-35…and Castenada rushed for 332-yards in that game.
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