Braves Secure Playoff Berth

Manny Salcedo leads the Braves into the playoffs.

Manny Salcedo leads the Braves into the playoffs.

(Covina) – Manny Salcedo ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead Baldwin Park to a 33-6 win over Northview Thursday night at Covina District Field. The Braves improved to 3-0 in the Valle Vista League with the victory and clinched a playoff berth.

  Baldwin Park Coach James Heggins, who got a Gatorade shower after the game courtesy of his team, was happy with the win but realized there is more work to be done.

  “We wanted to take care of business tonight and we did that. But we still got a lot of challenges out there,” he said. “We’ll take it one game a time. We have Ganesha next week and then San Dimas. Our league is tough.”

  If the Braves can beat Ganesha next week, the battle with San Dimas on November 13 will be for the league title.

   Baldwin Park can grind out long drives or use big plays to beat you. Against Northview it was big plays. In the first quarter, Salcedo scrambled out of the pocket, tucked the football and took off running. 25 yards later he was crossing the goal line for a 25 yard touchdown run.

  Later in the first, Salcedo did some damage with his arm. He dropped back and hit Christian Lazaro, who got behind the Northview secondary for a 63 yard touchdown pass.

  Early in the second, Lazaro fell on a Viking fumble and the Braves immediately took advantage. On the first play following the turnover Salcedo cranked it up and found Gustavo Lucatero on a 32 yard scoring pass. Lucatero got into the far corner of the end zone after hauling in Salcedo’s pass.

  A 50 yard touchdown pass from Salcedo to Lazaro in the first quarter was called back due to a holding penalty but Baldwin Park still went into the half with a 19-0 advantage.

  Northview was playing without regular quarterback Martin Arredondo and was forced to play running back Kamaron Germany behind center. Germany operating mainly out of a wildcat formation also threw the ball on occasion. But it was a struggle for the most part and the Vikings had trouble maintaining drives.

  The Vikes turned the ball over twice in the first half and Jesse Moran intercepted Germany in the third quarter. Late in the third, after Moran’s pick, the Braves drove 90 yards on 14 plays. Salcedo capped the march with a one yard run with just over nine minutes left in the contest.

  Giovanni Resendez joined the party in the fourth quarter for BP. After standing on the sideline for a majority of the game, he came in and went right up the gut for a 61 touchdown run that gave the Braves a 33-0 lead.   

  Northview finally got on the board on the next series. Marquise Thomas found a gap at the line of scrimmage and outran the Baldwin Park secondary 80 yards for a touchdown to account for the final score.

  Salcedo completed five of 11 for 180 yards and a touchdown. He did throw an interception in the second quarter. Resendez had five carries for 84 yards and Anthony Moran picked up 71 yards on 14 carries. Lazaro had three receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.

  Thomas rushed for 155 yards and a score on 18 carries or Northview. Germany rushed 14 times for 46 yards and threw for another 62 yards. He also did all the punting for the Vikes. Northview fell to 0-3 in league and 1-7 overall.

  “We’re struggling. There’s no doubt,” said Northview Coach Jim Arellanes. “We were also without our number two quarterback as well so we put Kamaron (Germany) back there. Defensively we gave up big plays. That’s been a weekly problem.”

 

BP 12  7  7  7      33

N     0  0  0  6        6

 

Summary:

1st Qtr:

BP 5:32 Salcedo 25 yd run (Kick Failed)

BP :57 Lazaro 63 yd pass from Salcedo (2 pt pass failed)

2nd Qtr:

BP 11:04 Lucatero 32 yd pass from Salcedo (Jaime Toscano Kick)

3rd Qtr:

BP 1:43 Salcedo 1 yd run (Toscano Kick)

4th Qtr:

BP 9:34 Resendez 61 yd run (Toscano Kick)

N 9:21 Thomas 80 yd run (Kick Failed)

Leave a Reply