Homecoming Heartbreaker for Lions

By Carson E. Powers

(El Monte)- Gabrielino cared not about feelings Friday night as it closed down El Monte’s homecoming with a 21-14 crusher in the Mission Valley League opener.

In front of a large crowd the Eagles Oscar Rivas had CIF on the mind as he raced right 45-yards in the early going to give Gabrielino a 7-0 lead. Rivas would finish the contest with 87-yards on a 14-carries.

Halfway through the first quarter Josh Acosta directed the Eagles on a long scoring drive, covering 85-yards, that he finished off with a nine-yard run.

Down 14-0 the Lions went to work. Sophomore quarterback Manuel Santa Cruz, making his second start, hit Memo Silva out of the shotgun for a 12-yard score with 6:58 left in the half.

The back breaker came in the fourth when a pitch from Quang Phong to Carlos Gonzalez went awry. The Eagles Eddie Moreno scooped up the loose ball and returned it 20-yards for the touchdown to make it 21-7.

With 56 seconds remaining El Monte’s Adrian Ramirez stretched across the goal line for a three-yard score to finish the scoring.

The victory improved Gabrielino to 2-4, 1-0 in league, while EMHS remained winless at 0-6.

Leave a Reply