By Matt Schuler
(La Puente)-The motto for the La Puente football team is “Play like a warrior today”.
Thats exactly what the Warriors did Friday night, obtaining sole possession of second place in the Montview league after defeating Gladstone 35-24 in a come from behind victory at home.
Speedy receiver James Fernandez rushed for two touchdowns, Jose Perez added a couple more and the Warriors ran away from the Gladiator defense all night, accumulating nearly 300-yards on the ground.
“We told them that we had to run the ball,” said La Puente coach Brandon Rohrer referring to his players. “If we want to win tonight we need to run the ball.”
The Warriors (8-2, 5-1) were actually down by a field goal (21-24) late in the third quarter and looking to give up another score when they turned the ball over on downs to the Gladiators. But two plays later Giovanni Rosales came up with a big defensive stop, picking off a Paul Flores pass and restoring life in the La Puente attack.
LP took advantage when Garrett Hrey threw a slant rout to Eduardo Venegas, who slipped a tackler and was in the end zone to regain the lead 28-24 with 11:10 to play in the game.
G-stone had their chance to respond, but came up short and was forced to punt.
“That interception was big,” Rohrer said. “We kind of gambled on fourth down, that interception was huge.”
It was only appropriate multi-threat reciever Fernandez, who has been making big plays for the Warriors all season, put the nail in the coffin with a 56-yard touchdown run to make it 35-24 with 6:08 to play.
Fernandez, who finished with 141-yards rushing and two scores, avoided a tackler and bursted 56-yards down the left side line and into the end zone. Fernandez earlier provided another crucial touchdown with 6 minutes left in the third which tied the game at 21 a piece.
“Were going to miss him next year, said Rohrer. “James is a special player, he’s one of the best players on our team and he showed it tonight.”
Gladstone (7-3, 4-2) finishes third in the Montview league, LP second, and Azusa (28-0 over Workman) takes the crown again.
Flores, who has over 1500 yards on the season, finsihed 11 for 22 with 155 yards and two td’s for the gladiators. His main target was receiver jesse Rodriguez, who caught 7 passes from Flores for 110 yards and one touch.
On the ground it was Senior Running back for G-Stone who scored twice, off a 27 yard screen play and a 24 scamper to the end zone.
“Cant take away the heart of a champion,” said gladiator coach Albert Sanchez. ” But you got to hand it to them, (La Puente) they got us tonight.”
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