Defense Leads Montebello Over La Puente, 24-17

The Oilers gush with joy after their first round win over La Puente. (Photo by Joe T.)

The Oilers gush with joy after their first round win over La Puente. (Photo by Joe T.)

By Joe Torosian

(Montebello)- Montebello advanced to the second round of the Mid-Valley Division thanks to its defense and Charlie Zuniga’s 45-yard scoop and score with 6:13 to play to give the Oilers a 24-17 victory over the La Puente Warriors.

In the first half Montebello built a 10-0, and 17-7 lead at the break. Running back Isaac Mendibles keyed the attack with touchdown runs of 37 and 66-yards. But what worked in the first half vanished in the second as the Warriors defense went to work.

La Puente picked off Oilers quarterback Ryan Rivera on the first drive of the second half and Henry Rodriguez converted it into points a 33-yard field goal.

The turnover was just the start of second half frustration for Montebello’s offense that would surrender sacks, another pick, and two more fumbles.

The Warriors took advantage. On its second possession Erick Morales led his team on a drive highlighted by key passes to Jordan Fisher, David Flores, and Jovanni Gonzalez. Morales finished the game tying march with a 1-yard run, his second of the night.

For the rest of the third and most of the fourth quarter neither team produced much on offense until La Puente tried to run wide and the ball was punched away. Zuniga picked it up near the Warriors sideline and took it to paydirt.

***Montebello started on the offensive line: LT: Christopher Cobos, LG: Bryan Velazquez, C: Carlos Gomez, RG: Daniel Gardea, RT: Luis Lopez.

***La Puente started on the offensive line: LT: Adrian Rodriguez, LG: Andrew Cilia, C: Raul Montiel, RG: Julio Espinoza, RT: Aldo Galindo.

***The Oilers, winners of six in a row, play Northview next week at home.

***The Warriors finish the season 7-4. In 2013, HC Scott Morrison’s first year, LP finished 7-4 and lost in the first round to Valley Christian by a touchdown.

***”Sometimes in the playoffs, we said it today, nothing has to be pretty. You have to fight and fight and find a way to win.”—Montebello HC Pete Gonzalez

***”These kids have a lot of character. We’ve been in close ball games the last few weeks and it built us for this. We built the kids in practice for moments like this by putting them in situations like this. What I tell the guys, the Darkside (defense), these are the situations I want to be in. Put it on our back and let’s go.”—Oilers DC Brian Zavala

***Montebello host’s Northview next week. It will be the third meeting in two years between the schools. The Vikings beat the Oilers earlier this season, but Montebello beat Northview in the first round of the 2013 playoffs.

***Sophomore Oiler linebacker Kobe Quiroga was ejected from the game after Zuniga’s touchdown and is ineligible to play next week.

 

 

 

 

Leave a Reply