(Bell Gardens) – Alhambra jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter but then had to rally late to beat Bell Gardens 26-21 Friday night on the Lancers home field.
The Moors let the big lead get away as BG bounced back to score 21 straight points and capture a 21-20 advantage.
Lu-ring Pailalii led the Moors with 214 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. His 79-yard TD burst proved to be the game winner putting Alhambra up 26-21 with 7:57 left in the contest.
Bell Gardens was then forced to punt and the Moors took over with 5:55 left and ran out the clock.
Salman Gurung added to the ground attack with 140 yards and a pair of scores on 21 carries. Both of his scoring runs came in the first quarter. The Moors had 391 yards rushing overall but zero passing yards. BG meanwhile had 140 yards on the ground and just 13 passing.
Braham Rodriguez gained the bulk of the yards with 94 yards and a touchdown. He scored Bell Gardens’ first touchdown on a 28-yard run late in the first quarter. That cut the Moors’ lead to 20-7. A 51-yard jaunt by Rodriguez on the first play of the second quarter set up the Lancers next score and Nico Beltran’s 21-yard return of a fumble by Alhambra’s punter Dominic Wilson – which was caused by a bad snap- put BG ahead 21-20 with 8:42 left in the first half.
That score stood until Paialii’s go ahead run in the fourth.
The Moors, now 4-4 and 2-1 in the Almont League will travel to Keppel next week. Bell Gardens (2-6, 2-1) will host Schurr.
*Information provided by Ron Vrooman.
Braham Rodriguez is a beast !!