Gabriel Tapia fires two touchdown passes to lead the Oiler past El Monte.
By Duane Barker
(Montebello) The Montebello Oilers and the El Monte Lions squared off in their 2016 season opener on the campus of Montebello High School. Both teams struggled early and eventually the Oilers took a lead and never looked back winning 40-6 Friday night.
The Lions won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff but were derailed right away as Montebello executed and onside kick that they recovered. The Oilers couldn’t capitalize on the break and went four-and-out.
Neither team found much traction early on and traded punts until Montebello broke through late in the first quarter. Kris Rodriguez took a Gabriel Tapia handoff and went up the middle for 20 yards and a touchdown. The point after by Kevin Bravo was good for the 7-0 lead.
It was a tough debut for Andrew Ramos and the Lions.
Two turnovers led to two more scores to push the lead to 21-0 on an El Monte fumble in their own endzone recovered by the Oilers and an interception return of 72- yards by Ramon Preciado.
The Lions lone score came with :39 left in the half. Andrew Ramos found Saul Sanchez in the back of the endzone to cap a six play, 55-yard scoring drive. The point after failed but the Lions still trailed 21-6.
Three more Montebello scores capped the scoring on the night and the Lions were unable to answer.
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** Montebello’s Tapia finished the night hitting on 12 of 20 passes for 148-yards and two scores.
** The Lions’ Ramos connected on 19 of 36 passes for 223-yards and one touchdown to go along with three interceptions.
** George Daniels led all rushers with 84-yards on 17 carries with a score.
** The leading ball carrier for El Monte was Daniel Romero with 35 yards on 14 carries.
** Oiler Isaiah Garcia hauled in four catches for 91-yards and two touchdowns.
** Saul Sanchez caught six passes for 88-yards and one score for the Lions.
** Protecting Ramos was Christian and Christopher Alvarez, Geovanny Lepe, Abel Ochoa and Luis Valerio.
** In the trenches for the Oilers were Steven Salgado, Isaac Cabral, Nathaniel Martel, Edgar Pelayo and Ramiro Rodriguez.
** The Lions will look to turn things around at home next week against the Schurr Spartans while Montebello will travel south to do battle with St. Paul.
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