The return of Ricky Mejia has been key for the Olympians this season. (Photo by Gary Lee)
By Matt Schuler
(Bassett) – In a match up of two 0-2 teams, the host Bassett Olympians outlasted the El Monte Lions 35-28 to come away with their first victory of the season.
Ricky Mejia and Marcus Ruiz Combined For over 300 Yards & 3 TDs, While Jesus Navarrete finished his night adding two additional scores on the ground.
The Olympians jumped out to a quick start and held an early 21-0 lead after Marcus Ruiz found Christopher Rios on a 20-yard post route in the end zone with 11:56 to play in the second. Things looked to get out of hand until El Monte’s Christian Herrera intercepted a Ruiz pass and took it 20 yards to the house for a 21-6 score with 8:00 remaining in the second.
Two plays later, Mejia found the hole and busted through it for a 69 yard touchdown making it the biggest lead of the game at 28-6 with little over 7 minutes to play in the half.
After squeezing in a touchdown right as half ended, El Monte QB Edward Dominguez helped lead the Lions to a near comeback in the third quarter finding Fernando Espinoza for touchdowns (31 & 13) on consecutive drives and brought his team as close as 35-28 with under 5:00 in the quarter, but that’s as close as they would get.
Bassett (1-2) prepares for yet another home game against Bosco Tech (0-3) as El Monte (0-3) plays visitor against Gladstone (0-2) at Citrus College.
***Navarrete scored first and last touchdown for Olympians.
***Daniel Cabrera, Ismael Yepez, Mario Zamora, Carlos Ramirez, Juan Garcia Bassett OL.
***Robert Rodriguez, Luis Diaz, Fabian Cuevas, Bryan Cornejo, Jonathan Ponce El Monte OL.
***Box Score: 14-0 28-14 35-28 35-28
***Rios came up with huge INT at goal line after Lions approached 1st and goal preventing potential score.
***Chris Perez caught Ruiz’s other TD pass on a beautiful 40 yard fade route.
***Devin Romero played speedster for Lions on ground.
***Espinoza was MVP on El Monte side of comeback, catching multiple TD’s and extra points.
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