“Lions Devin Romero (#7) & Andrew Ramos (#5).”–Photo by Joe T.
By Joe Torosian
(Glendora)—Eric MacIntyre and the El Monte Lions jumped into the win column for the first time in 2016 with a 21-7 victory over the Azusa Aztecs at Citrus College on Thursday night.
After allowing 84 points combined in their first two games the Lions defense tightened things up to start Week Two. The Aztecs punted on their first five possessions and when they moved the ball deep in the El Monte territory on the sixth…they fumbled it away.
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The Lions offense, which struggled to score only 12 points in their first eight quarters, was more methodical than spectacular.
Taking advantage of the field position provided by its defense, the EM offense cobbled together a 38 yard drive in the first quarter. It was keyed by a fourth and five conversion for 10-yards from Andrew Ramos to Robert Gonzalez and capped by Ramos’ 5-yard run to the pylon at the 3:59 mark.
El Monte twice moved deep into Azusa territory but turned the ball over on downs.
In the second half the Aztecs began to move the ball a little bit, picking their first, first down of the night, but a fumble, punt, and punt doomed them.
Meanwhile, the Lions offensive line began to assert itself and Devin Romero began to find running room. Late in the third, EM went 62 yards on 8-plays and scored on Ramos’ 8-yard strike to Juan Carlos Garcia.
The point after was blocked and El Monte led, 13-0.
In the fourth, Romero highlighted another scoring drive. The senior running back carried the ball 11 times on a 12-play drive that covered 56 yards and ended when Romero plowed in from a yard out. Ramos scored the deuce on a botched snap and the score was 21-0.
Romero finished with 117 yards on 35 carries and one touchdown. Ramos rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown and completed 9 of 18 for 98 yards and touchdown. He was intercepted in the first half by Azusa’s Matthew Jimenez.
The offensive line was led by tackles Isaac Placentia and Chris Alvarez, guards Jason Montes and Alex Lopez, and center Abel Ochoa.
With 3:33 to play in the game Gabriel Whitworth got the Aztecs on the board with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Velasco but got no closer.
The loss dropped Azusa to 1-1 and gave the Lions their sixth win over the Aztecs in their last seven meetings. El Monte is now 1-2.
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