Never send to know for whom the Bellflower blooms, at 5-0, it blooms for thee. Bucs offensive linemen; Francisco Padilla (#77), Jason Sitala (#75), & David Esparza (#66).—(Photo by Joe T.)
By Joe Torosian
(La Mirada)- The Bellflower Buccaneers overcame a slow start to beat the John Glenn Eagles, 40-7, on Thursday night at La Mirada High School in the Suburban League opener for both teams.
“The record thing is not a big deal to us,” said Bucs HC Derek Brown. “What we’re worried about, what we’re focused on, is getting better than we were the day before. Tonight we found out we were in league, league is always tougher. We got some things to work on. We came out with a win, so that’s great, but tomorrow we got to go back to working on getting better.”
Bellflower’s first score came on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Demetrius Reed to Khalif Majied. Followed by a pair of Christian Pinzon field goals they led 13-0 but did not look dominant.
With a 1:17 to go in the half Glenn provided a wake up call. Using a ground and pound offense, which featured a wishbone set, the Eagles moved down the field and cut the lead to 13-7 when Jamal Burns reached paydirt on a 30-yard run.
Message received.
The Buccaneers’ Reed, with the ball back in his hands, passed his team in the final seconds into Glenn territory and hit Majied, again, on a 24-yard scoring pass with two ticks left on the second quarter clock.
The Eagles did not come near the end zone in the second half and Bellflower added three more scores. Madison Wheeler on a 33-yard punt return, Reed went to Majied (18-yards) a third time, and Marquise Lowe (the Southeast Division’s leading rusher) from 25-yards.
***Bellflower’s first five games have been played on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. They are 5-0.
***Glenn is now 2-3.
***The Buccaneers Khalif Majied had caught 17 passes to lead his team in receiving coming into Thursday night’s game, but scored no touchdowns. Against Glenn he scored three.
***“What we are working to be is balanced on offense.”—Bellflower OC Derek Bedell
***Eagles quarterback Anthony Conrad, the team’s leading rusher, left the game with an injury in the first half. He was replaced by last year’s starting quarterback Erick Galindo. Galindo had been playing inside linebacker and tight end.
***Bellflower started on the offensive line: LT: Nick Danna, LG: Jason Sitala, C: David Esparza, RG: Leon Singleton, RT: Francisco Padilla.
***Glenn started on the offensive line: LT: (X) LG: Tony Varos, C: Will Ruano, RG: Diego Gomez, RT: (X)—“X” indicates number not listed on roster.
***Buccaneers quarterback Demetrius Reed now has six touchdown passes on the season. He’s run for three.
***“Black Death! Get the Black Death in there!”—Bellflower coaching staff.
***Bellflower host’s La Mirada next week. Glenn in on bye and plays the Matadores on October 10th.
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