El Monte Survives San Marino…and Own Mistakes: 20-7

By Rich Whittington

(San Marino) – The El Monte Lions had their first real test of the 2019 football season but ultimately prevailed 20-7 Friday evening over the host San Marino Titans, who refused to become just another bump in the road for the El Monte “Double –Wing” express.    

El Monte seemed to have command of the game from the very beginning. After receiving the opening kickoff, the Lions put together a sustained drive that consumed the first six minutes of the first quarter of play. Unfortunately, for the Lions, a blowout was not in the “cosmic game plan” for this evening’s contest.

On the next play, Davon Booth, El Monte’s normally sure- handed running back, fumbled. The ball was recovered by San Marino safety Neven Yarahmadi, ending El Monte’s scoring opportunity.

El Monte’s next scoring opportunity worked out a bit better. With 2:30 remaining in the opening period, quarterback Joseph Herrera connected with the aforementioned
Booth for a 59-yard TD strike. The PAT was unsuccessful, making the score 6-0 El Monte, after one quarter of play.

The score remained 6-0, until late in the third quarter, when San Marino’s Connor Short completed a 17 yard TD pass to Niko Mavridis. The PAT was successfully
converted by Jordan Evans, making the score 7-6, in favor of the Titans. This served to temporally quell the El Monte faithful that were in attendance.

El Monte took the 7-6 lead into the fourth quarter.

At this point, there was good news…and bad news…for the Titans. The good news was that they had the lead. The bad news was that El Monte had Booth. As the fourth
quarter began, Short was intercepted by Booth. This proved to be the beginning of the San Marino end, as El Monte again found the end-zone on a 77
yard touchdown run…courtesy of…wait for it…Booth. The PAT attempt was foiled, making the score 12-7, El Monte, with 9:32 remaining in the game.

El Monte added another score, as Booth intercepted another Short offering, returning the pick 56 yards for the final touchdown. The 2-point PAT attempt was
converted, by Booth, for the final tally.

It is often said that offense sells tickets, while defense wins games. In this one the El Monte defensive unit was stout. The Lion “D” kept the Titans out of the end-zone for the majority of the game, turning them away on a drive that began with a first and goal on the two yard-line, and again on a drive that began first and goal on the 7 yard-line. Two big stops on two scoring possibilities.

Next week the Titans (0-3) will travel to Santa Fe Springs, to battle the Santa Fe
Chiefs. The Lions (3-0) will be at home, as they host the Orange Vista Coyotes. Kickoff for both games is at 7:00 p.m.

13 Comments to "El Monte Survives San Marino…and Own Mistakes: 20-7"

  1. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    September 13, 2019 - 1:23 pm | Permalink

    It’s very sad how All these Arroyo parents, Alumni, ex-players, or ex coaches straight hate and make up things, I been read the blogs since week 1 and wow. No class whatsoever. When Arroyo won a couple years ago yes there was some trash talking but now that they are in a decline holy moly they just straight make up thing. So shameful and unnecessary, but KARMA forgets no one

  2. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    September 12, 2019 - 7:18 am | Permalink

    @FridayKnights. First, stop trashing HS kid wanting to play football and makes a career out of it. The kid worked hard during the off season, he has lean muscle now, compare to last year. Second, get your info straight. Booth is not 5’6 155lbs. He is around 5’9 180 or little bit more. My son is 5’8 175, with less muscle than Booth. When my son standed next to Booth, Booth looks little taller and bigger (with lean muscle). Stop trashing kids and just enjoy the game. Of course EM or Arroyo want to beat each other, but leave the kid alone. I never talk bad about Arroyo’s kid or any other kid from other school. Booth may not go to the top D1 school, but I heard he is being look at from UCLA.

  3. You Mad Bro?'s Gravatar You Mad Bro?
    September 11, 2019 - 8:35 pm | Permalink

    Booth is 5’9 180 lol..Are you his doctor? Quit hating on kids and get a life..He’s trying to do something you couldn’t when you were younger no one wants to be hating on a kid in their 40s on the internet. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were still living with your mom

  4. LVLions's Gravatar LVLions
    September 11, 2019 - 7:30 pm | Permalink

    I know you’ve never seen anyone under a 5.0 forty but he’s around 4.5 and 5’9” 180lbs and also plays DB. The chink in the armor was a pair of fumbles and a int that probably won’t happen again. Yeah all those transfers we got. Hahaha. Remember the teams SM have lost to are 9-0 (Charter Oak, Northview, EM) not bad, Glenn is now 2-1. Everyone is seeing us not a full strength either with Marcos Montoya coming back in a few weeks. Just going to make us that much better. Good win Arroyo, let’s keep it up and hopefully you could be within 3 TDs this year.

  5. September 10, 2019 - 9:51 pm | Permalink

    Booth doesn’t go to class? Is that what’s going on over there in lion land? San Marino who is nothing compared to last year pushed you to the limit? There’s a chink in that armor! The double wing is great until it isn’t! Also there’s rumblings about kids complaining about playing time already lmfao Kids don’t like transferring just to sit. Oh and I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Booth is in no way a D-1 RB he’s 5’6 155 pounds 4:7 speed! I’m what world is that D1? He’s a good back playing in a run oriented offense that’s designed for big numbers. He’s a great high school player and you what, that’s ok. If he plays college football that’d be very good for him. Not hating. Goodnight now.
    From T. Peterson: Sorry but you’re wrong. Have it from “reliable sources” that Booth is always in class and a great kid. Not sure where you’re getting your information but it’s way off. Check your facts.

  6. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    September 10, 2019 - 7:11 pm | Permalink

    How could you say booth does not attend class if you don’t attend the school? Or have a child that does

  7. @Angel @Knight train's Gravatar @Angel @Knight train
    September 10, 2019 - 6:54 pm | Permalink

    You have never seen one of your kids ever go D1 so you don’t even know what you’re talking about. Look around at the lower divisions and smaller schools a lot of kids going D1. The worse thing is your on here gossiping like females about a kid. I haven’t seen a EM fan call out a Arroyo kid on here. You could have your opinion and believe what you want. Just over a month and you’ll see. Best of luck on the rest of the season.

  8. Angel's Gravatar Angel
    September 10, 2019 - 3:00 pm | Permalink

    Take it easy El Monte fans. You play in a low division and haven’t played anybody. Coaches set up a soft schedule. I would like to see what it would look like if you played Los Altos, Monrovia , Northview or Glendora, Those are the real SGV teams we should be talking about. No knock on the kids. Just saying it I as I see it. D1 schools look at what divisions schools play for and strength of schedule to consider players.

  9. Knight train's Gravatar Knight train
    September 10, 2019 - 2:17 pm | Permalink

    Booth is not what people say he is. Doesn’t attend class much and gets bye because of his talent. When you get to college you have to work hard and go to class. Principals and teachers are hurting him not, helping this young man. Arroyo will be ready and end the Lions dreams. Don’t be afraid to play someone EM your schedule is soft . Oh yea I forgot you’re scared to play anyone good.
    From T. Peterson: Sorry but you missed it on this one. Have it from reliable sources that he is always in class and a great high character kid. Might want to check your “facts”.

  10. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    September 8, 2019 - 5:29 pm | Permalink

    @Area Fan , Sir you are a class act

  11. Anonymous's Gravatar Anonymous
    September 8, 2019 - 5:29 pm | Permalink

    @Area Fan , Sir you are a class act …..so refreshing

  12. LionFarm's Gravatar LionFarm
    September 7, 2019 - 1:45 pm | Permalink

    Great classy post Area Fan! He is a humble and nice young man. Very competitive at the same time. Looking at UCLA game and they could really use Davon next season

  13. Area Fan's Gravatar Area Fan
    September 7, 2019 - 4:52 am | Permalink

    I have been to a lot of games over the last 10 years. More per season when my kids and nephews were playing. I’m usually at Mission Valley League games and know a lot of people. This kid Booth is maybe the best I’ve seen in the MVL. Yeah I know others are going to get on here talk about where he’s from, this and that. But for this being his second season of high school ball he is a star. Definitely a D1 type kid. Tonight with a lot of miscues by El Monte he beat San Marino interception in the endzone, interception to ice the game and a touchdown rushing and receiving. Seems like a humble kid from what I hear and a hard worker. Hope nothing but the best for him. Hopefully he has a off night against my Knights.

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