It's La Fiesta Noche for the Moors!
By Juan Carlos Salas
(Montebello) – Alhambra dominated the air en route to a 32-27 victory over Montebello Friday night. Quarterback Darrian Cazarin led the Moors on a penalty-ridden drive, and called his number for the game-winning touchdown.
“We didn’t get in when we had to get in on the run,” said Alhambra Head Coach Gil Ruedaflores. “So we had to rely on our pass and [Cazarin] got it done there and scored.”
By the pass Cazarin accounted 338 passing yards four touchdowns.
Montebello’s offense was led by Joseph Marron, who nearly gave the Oilers the victory with three touchdowns in the second half.
Down by one point, Alhambra took possession on its own 38. After crossing midfield and at three and one, the Moors were flagged twice backing them 10 yards. Cazarin found Mitchell Crockom for the first down and later Vailele Peko on a 21-yard pass to place the Moors inside the Montebello five. Moments later, Cazarin found space and drove to his left finding the end zone for the game-winner.
“There were a lot of penalties, a lot of break downs mentally,” said Ruedaflores. “But we came back and fought through it. That is a sign of a good football team, and we have one.”
Alhambra, however, started with turnovers on its first two possessions. Crockom fumbled after a pass, and later Cazarin was picked by Montebello’s Augustine Gonzalez who returned it to the end zone for the Oilers 6-0 lead.
But the Moors showed their firepower as Cazarin found Crockom in the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown to take the lead, 7-6. In the second quarter Alhambra extended its advantage, 13-6, after Brandon Wilson’s 4-yard rushing touchdown.
Before the end of the half, the Moors’ 88-yards drive was capped by a 27-yard touchdown pass to Wilson who strolled into the end zone with little difficulty and into the locker rooms with a 20-6 lead.
Both teams would exchange blows in the second half. Alhambra started flat, allowing Montebello to score on its first possession with a 12-yard rush by Marron.
Standing firm the Moors added to the scoreboard, scoring on their next possession after Cazarin found Cockrom for a 16-yard touchdown to make it 26-13.
Moments later Montebello found the end zone again after getting to the Alhambra one. Marron found space through the middle and cut the lead to six.
Alhambra missed a field goal and Montebello capitalized with Marron’s third touchdown, a 7-yard rush, retaking the lead, 27-26, from the first quarter.
“We haven’t had the luck in the past. The luck as far as our boys paying attention to execution that is luck to me. We were lucky today that they executed when they had to execute,” said Ruedaflores. “It was a good game. Both teams wanted to win an Almont League game. And we played four quarters.”
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