Raymond Raygoza Delivered the Big Hits for the BP Defense
(Pomona) – Baldwin Park intercepted two passes and returned them for touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cap a 33-12 win over Pomona Thursday night in Valle Vista League action.
The Braves leading 21-12 after jumping out to a 21-0 advantage, were seemingly content to grind out the victory and hang on for a nine point win. But then the defense asserted itself and turned it into a rout late in the contest.
“Our defense played outstanding. That’s a good football team over there. They have a lot of good athletes,” said Baldwin Park Coach James Heggins. “Sometimes you wish you could go the whole game making big plays and score more points but sometimes it doesn’t happen. I’m just glad our defense played well.”
With just 2:06 left in the contest, Jesse Moran picked off a Darrian Lewis pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown. Pomona got the ball back and the BP D struck again.
This time lineman Vincente Elizade, stepped in front of a pass in the flat, kicked it into gear and motored 48 yards for the score to put the Brave icing on the victory cake.
The Braves D came up big in the first quarter as well to set the tone. They stopped Pomona twice inside the ten yard line before getting on the board.
Quarterback Manny Salcedo opened the scoring with a 12 yard touchdown run. The TD was set up by 21 yard Salcedo pass to Christian Lazaro.
Early in the second quarter Moran shredded a couple of Pomona tacklers on his way to a 31 yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead. The drive was set up after Armando Montoya picked off a pass setting the Braves up at the 50 yard line. Four plays later Moran scored.
The Braves increased it to 21-0 when Anthony Moran finished an 88 yard drive with a two yard run. The Salcedo – Lazaro connection worked again for 38 yards to set the stage for the short TD run.
Taj Teague got loose for a 69 yard run late in the first half to set up a Lewis five yard touchdown run for Pomona to cut the lead to 21-6 at halftime.
Pomona backup quarterback Tavia Cobbs, who spells Lewis on occasion, scored on an eight yard run in the third quarter to get the Red Devils close. Shannon Claiborne got behind the Baldwin Park secondary and hauled in a 66 yard pass from Lewis to pave the way for the score.
It stayed that way until the Brave defense took over late.
Moran had 17 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown. Salcedo completed 7 of 15 for 120 yards. Lazaro caught four passes for 84 yards. But the story was really the BP defense.
Shannon Claiborne had eight catches for 62 yards for Pomona. The Devils dropped to 1-1 in league and 5-2 overall. Baldwin Park improved to 2-0 and 6-1.
“We got to just take them one at a time. We got Northview next week and we know they’ll be tough at home,” Heggins added.
BP 7 14 0 12 33
P 0 6 6 0 12
Summary:
1st Qtr:
BP 3:30 Salcedo 12 yd run (Bryan Torres Kick)
2nd Qtr:
BP 10:01 Jesse Moran 31 yd run (Torres Kick)
BP 3:09 Anthony Moran 2 yd run (Torres Kick)
P :50 Lewis 5 yd run (Kick Failed)
3rd Qtr:
P 4:17 Cobbs 8 yd run (2 Pt run failed)
4th Qtr:
BP 2:06 Jesse Moran 39 yd Int. Ret. (Kick Failed)
BP :26 Elizade 48 yd Int. Ret. (Kick Failed)
Leave a Reply