By George Hernandez
(La Puente) – Wilson quarterback Isaiah Espinoza brought his team back twice leading the Wildcats to a 31-28 victory over host La Puente Thursday night.
Espinoza’s first two drives didn’t start out good both ending in interceptions. Both of those turnovers leading to Warriors quarterback Alex Castellanos driving down field and scoring on runs of 13 and 12 yards making it 13-0 midway through the first quarter.
Wilson got on board with a 75-yard kickoff return touchdown by Anthony Guzman making it 13-7.
Wildcats took the lead after a Elijah Lewis interception led to a one-yard touchdown dive by Isaac Hernandez putting them up 14-13.
The Wilson lead didn’t last long La Puente’s run heavy offense scored twice in the second quarter on short runs from Zackery Camp and James Zavala making it 28-14 after a successful two point conversion.
Wilson was threatening to score before half when with 13 seconds left the power went out. The officials declared the time would be made up after halftime.
The lights went back on and the Wildcats got in field goal range and Joshua Beltran hit a 40-yarder as time expired in the first half that was being played in the second half.
The score was 28-24 going into the last 2:21 left in the game. Espinoza went 5 of 5 for 70-yards and capped it off with a 2-yard touchdown scramble to pay dirt, completing the comeback 31-28.
La Puente had 48 seconds on the clock and drove 40-yards but the last play of the game Robert Dominguez was picked off by Espinoza to close it out.
Camp had three sacks and touchdown for the Warriors, Castellanos finished with 22-carries for 262-yards and two scores. Zavala chipped in with 13-carries for 92-yards and a touchdown. Dominguez and Alan Banguera had interceptions.
Espinoza finished 15 of 23 for 201-yards and two interceptions he also had 10-carries for 127 yards and two trips to the end zone. Espinoza hit five different receivers with his favorite being Nick Cardenas who had five receptions for 89-yards.
“I love the fight they have and I’m so happy to coach these kids, we’re going to see good results and tonight we finally broke through,” said first year head coach Daniel Morales.
La Puente (1-3) will play Gladstone next week at Charter Oak and Wilson (1-3) has a bye week before battling Workman in two weeks.
Good for Wilson. Not much to speak of for a long time.