San Dimas running back Nazario Ruiz weaving his way through BP traffic. (Photo by Steven Mercado)
By Steven Mercado
(San Dimas)- Staying true to its identity as a run-heavy offense, San Dimas pounded Baldwin Park on the ground with seven rushing touchdowns as the Saints cruised to a 59-20 win over the Braves on Friday night.
Two senior running backs, Manny Elizalde and Nazario Ruiz led the rushing attack with three touchdowns each. Sophomore RB Jarell Sykes cashed in with the final touchdown of the night in the fourth quarter. Senior RB Bobby Rios, who led the Saints during the regular season with 11 rushing touchdowns, did not touch the ball all game.
San Dimas started the game with a four play, 80-yard opening scoring drive. Baldwin Park fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Saints recovered it at the Braves’ 30-yard line. San Dimas scored again to take an early 14-0 lead.
Baldwin Park had a hard time getting anything going for the majority of the game, After the early fumble, they were held to three three-and-outs and a turnover on downs in the red zone before scoring their first touchdown of the game late in the second quarter.
With the win, San Dimas heads into next week preparing to face the Pomona Red Devils, who defeated McAuliffe at home 65-0 on Friday night.
*** Starting Saints RB Elizalde finished with 14 rushes for 112 yards and three touchdowns and two catches for 60 yards. Ruiz, who returned to the team for the final three games of the season, finished with nine rushes for 218 yards and three touchdowns.
*** Ruiz’s first three carries of the game resulted in touchdowns. He broke a 60-yard touchdown, a 17-yarder and a 77-yard touchdown run, respectively.
*** San Dimas’ first touchdown of the game was a passing touchdown from senior QB Andrew Avila to senior WR Josh Aguilar. This was the only passing touchdown of the game for the Saints.
*** Baldwin Park’s first touchdown of the game capped off a six play, 70-yard drive. Sophomore QB Antwaun Ayers connected with junior WR Raymen Barraza for a 12-yard touchdown.
*** Ayers went 14-for-22, throwing for 145 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He also ran the ball 11 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns.
*** When Ruiz took his first carry for a 60-yard touchdown run, Baldwin Park was flagged for a personal foul. The penalty was assessed on the kickoff, causing the kick to be taken from BP’s 45-yard line. San Dimas attempted an onside kick and recovered the ball on Baldwin Park’s 30-yard line. The drive resulted in a touchdown to bring the score to 28-0.
*** San Dimas head coach Bill Zernickow on what the team needs to work on heading into the next round: “We’re not good at anything yet, so we have to keep working hard. We have some things we have to clean up.”
*** San Dimas’ 59 points were the most points it has scored all season.
*** Baldwin Park had 73 active players on Friday night and San Dimas had 46.
*** Coach Z on the effort in Friday night’s win: “[Baldwin Park has] twice as many football players as us, they’re twice as big as us, but our kids played well and we have a big game next week that we have to get ready for. Pomona has probably the best athletes out there, so we have to get ready.”
*** San Dimas’ starting offensive line: junior LT Yousef Hanna, junior LG Charles Santisteban, senior C Nick Castaneda, junior RG Nathan Reep and senior RT Jonathan Aleriano.
*** Baldwin Park’s starting offensive line: junior LT Francisco Perez, junior LG Fredy Monroy, junior C Eric Flores, senior RG Isidro Castro and senior RT Freddie Gallegos.
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