Alhambra Dominates Temple City: 20-2
by Rich Whittington
(Alhambra) The Alhambra Moors stretched their record to a perfect 3-0, as they dominated the visiting Temple City Rams, 20-2, Friday evening at Moor Field.
Alhambra’s first score of the evening came on a 45-yard TD bomb from Freshman QB Noah Rodriguez to Senior WR Raul Cortez, with 8:40 remaining in the first quarter of play. The Moors scored again, when Sebastian Velasco returned a Temple City punt 48 yards for a touchdown, with 7:04 remaining in the second period. Alhambra’s final score of the evening came with 1:07 remaining in the first half of play, as Senior RB Anthony Herrera scored on a 2-yard TD blast.
The Moors also prevailed defensively, intercepting TC Quarterback Alex Vera on four separate occasions. Sebastian Cervantes had two interceptions Vito Russell and Velasco each had one as well. Temple City, who saw their record drop to 1-1, got on track in the second half. The Rams, who did not have a first down in the first half, began moving the ball with relative ease. TC actually controlled the ball for the first 8:09 of the third quarter. Unfortunately, TC did not reach the end zone. Temple City did avoid a shutout, however, when Alhambra’s Center snapped the ball over QB Rodriguez’s head…and through their own end zone. The impending Safety made the score 20-2.
Alhambra’s next opponent is the Wilson Mules, who will pay a visit to Moor Field. Temple City returns home to host the Gabrielino Eagles. Both contests are scheduled for 9/7/18. Kickoff time for both games is 7:00PM.
@ Josephas: Well, all right, thanks for the well-wishes. We’ll keep playing the games, one at a time, and let’s see what happens.
The schedule-making is something that could possibly be addressed in the off-season. As for now, we know we’re in Division 13; it is what it is, but we’ll be the best Division 13 team we can become.
I don’t think we ever deliberately set out to play lesser opponents; in fact, we were in that category ourselves for a few years. Fortunately, we’ve become more competitive again the last couple of seasons.
By the way, I don’t drink Kool-Aid, either literally or figuratively. I believe in giving credit where credit is due. May the wins keep coming.
@ Ron
Your getting ALL defensive, just in your comment alone about (winning three games in a row) is proof your drinking the kool aid LOL. I guess it’s a moot point if your gauge of creating a habit of winning consistently against lesser opponents is the goal , then mission accomplished. Your just not that good sorry but your really really bad. Come league let’s see if the great winning streak and habit making helps. Good luck (your gonna need it)
@ Josephas: We’ve never said—or even thought—that we’ve beaten elite teams in the early going this season.
But, it speaks volumes that we’re getting negative comments when we’re riding a three-game winning streak. It’s obvious the wolves would be barking at the door had we lost those games.
I know our guys will appreciate your compliments regarding their performance. I’m sure they’ll use your remarks, and those of others, as added motivation to do better each week.
I don’t believe that our coaches and players have developed a false sense of accomplishment from winning three straight games. We’re still working to turn things around after several losing seasons, and we’re not about to get complacent now.
Instead, I see those victories as confidence builders.
The Alhambra Moors are out to build a football program that is competitive every week. Winning is a good habit to get into, and our goal is to win consistently.
@Ron
I agree and you don’t control your opponent. But in all sincerity if your looking for wins against inferior teams, granted SEM was decent last year. However the rest of your schedule you can predict their horrible and is not going to help your team in anyway, shape or form. That is unless you want to look back and say well at least our record was better than in years past. You have to play equal or better than your team in order to play with the lead dogs in your perspective league. Ron please please don’t take this as an attack on your school but you should not give these kids that false sense of accomplishment. You guys are really really bad. I have been around a few teams this year and you are not even in the same hemisphere as teams in your Division.
@ football outsider: Well said. We at Alhambra have never been happy with losing so many games in recent years. It’s nice to win for a change.
There are aspects of our game which we need to improve; it’s a fact that we’re well aware of. I believe we have a good group of coaches and players who will continue to maintain a positive attitude and work hard to prepare for each upcoming opponent.
Alhambra is just fine playing the schedule they play. They need to focus on improving week by week so they give themselves an opportunity to win. All the hand wringing and negative comments about who they play and whether they’re worthy of being called good is irrelevant. White noise that hopefully doesn’t get to the ears of the players and staff.
@ JBs: The one thing I’ll give you is that Alhambra will have to win several more games this season in order to convince the naysayers that we have a pretty good team.
But, winning always beats losing, regardless of who the opponents are. We weren’t supposed to lose those three games, were we?
Our defense has generally done an excellent job, and our special teams have been reasonably good most of the time. I’ll be one of the first people to say that Alhambra’s offense needs to catch up, and the sooner the better.
As for the teams that L.A. Wilson has played so far, Manual Arts is 1-2, while Bell High and Washington Prep are still winless. All of that info can be found easily on MaxPreps.
AHS has played L.A. Wilson every year since 2009; it’s sort of a friendly Eastside vs. Alhambra thing. Perhaps questions about both teams will be answered at Moor Field on Friday night.
Play someone with a winning record and beat them before we all jump on the “Alhambra is Back” band wagon. Before everyone says it…LA Wilson is 3-0 but they haven’t played a winning team yet either, I don’t believe they have played a team with a win yet.
I actually like Alhambra, I went to their game against SEM. All I am saying is their really bad and their competition is even worse. That is not going to help you beat the school on the hill. I mean really bad!
Yup, we’ll said. There playing teams that are equal to them. There getting wins, can’t hate on them for that.
Who would you like them to play? Bishop Gorman, St. John Bosco, or maybe even Mater Dei? Alhambra played well against the same level of competition, give them some credit.
Coach eric finally turning things around
Alhambra is really the worst 3-0 team out there. But a win is a win. Good job and time will tell.
Alhambra High vs. L.A. Wilson at Moor Field, next Friday at 7 p.m.
Both teams are 3-0, and the Mules have run up big scores on their last two opponents. This should be an interesting matchup.
By the way, South El Monte and Rowland both won this week; that might help Alhambra’s Division 13 “power ranking” just a little.
Defense and special teams have carried the Moors so far; the offense is still under construction, although it has shown signs of life.
Alhambra hasn’t played anyone! Please….play somebody!
Alhambra, I was wrong about you, or was I wrong about TC? Anyway, congrats on a good win.