By Tim Peterson
(Covina) – Los Altos got a pick six on its first defensive series of the game to set the tone and went on to beat Charter Oak 21-7 Friday night on the Chargers home field.
In a game that was battle for the top spot in the Hacienda League, the Conquerors held Charter Oak scoreless until late in the fourth quarter when Zack Niccoli found Jermaine Braddock from 14 yards out with just 3:09 left in the contest to cut the Los Altos lead to 14-7. Los Altos immediately responded with the knockout punch on the next possession when Tyler Nevens broke off a 51 yard touchdown run.
Charter Oak got the ball back and moved it down to the Conqueror 17 yard line but was stopped on fourth down when Niccoli’s pass fell incomplete.
The Conq defense stymied the Chargers all night forcing them to punt five times and causing a pair of turnovers with the interception. Matthew Takata started for Charter Oak and he was bitten early. Anthony Lopez picked off an errant Takata pass and returned it 40 yards for a score with just a 1:43 into the game Los Altos was up 7-0.
“I call him squirt because he only stands about this big,” said Los Altos HC Dale Ziola holding out his hand to show Lopez’ height. “But he plays about ten feet tall. He’s a good little football player. Absolutely.”
On the Conquerors first offensive series of the game they came up with another big play. Kody Olmos found his tight end Andrew Manuele over the middle and he rumbled 61 yards for the touchdown. Before the first quarter was over the Conquerors were up two scores.
The score stayed that way until the fourth quarter until Niccoli, in place of Takata, connected with Braddock for their first score.
Nevens ended up with 95 yards on 21 carries, 51 of them coming on the fourth quarter TD run. Olmos completed just three passes in seven attempts for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Brian Casteel caught six passes for 77 yards and Braddock caught nine for 109 yards for Charter Oak, but the Chargers could only manage the one score.
“They played outstanding. Our defense played great. Words can’t explain how proud I am of them,” Ziola said. “The kids played with guts tonight. Sheer guts man. They (Charter Oak) did a good job on defense as well, slowing us down a little but the kids hung tough. That’s what happens when you play good teams. It’s a battle.”
With the victory Los Altos remains undefeated at 9-0 while Charter Oak lost its first game and is now 8-1. The Conquerors have one more hurdle to clear when they face West Covina next week while Charter Oak will end the regular season with Walnut.
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