Davon Booth carries the Lions to victory.
As our “One Year Ago” series marches on this one was played on October 11, 2019 in a clash of Mission Valley League rivals. El Monte continued its undefeated run with a big Week 7 road win over Arroyo. Duane Barker was on hand for the coverage.
By Duane Barker
(El Monte) – In a game that could very well decide who wears the crown in the Mission Valley League, the El Monte Lions and the Arroyo Knights battled for four quarters with the Lions coming out on top 26-21 at B.L Bergstrom Stadium Friday night.
The Lions’ Davon Booth and Abel Cueva combined for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Booth rushing for 210-yards on 26 carries with two scores and Cueva grinding out 139-yards on 15 carries.
El Monte got on the board first with 7:38 left in the first quarter. The Lions were set up in great field position at the Arroyo 26 when Jonathan Lopez blocked a Knight punt and recovered it at the 26. Two plays later Jose De Jesus Garcia plunged his way across the goal line from 2-yards away. The two-point conversion failed but the Lions had a 6-0 lead.
The Lions jumped out to a 12-0 lead on Booth’s first score of the night finishing off a 5-play 68 yard drive. Included in the drive were a 48-yard scamper by Booth combined with a 28-yard scoot to paydirt.
Adrian Calvillo was the majority of the Knight offense.
The Knights came back to cut the lead to 12-7 on a 1-yard run by Adrian Calvillo. Calvillos score was the culmination of a 15-play 74 yard drive.
Arroyo had a chance to cut the lead to two late in first half. A 6-play drive stalled at the El Monte 15. Ramiro Piza trotted out for the 32-yard field goal attempt. His boot was no good as it just sailed outside the near goal post.
El Monte regained a 13-point advantage with a little over four minutes left in the third quarter. The Lions went on a drive that ate up yardage and the clock going 79-yards on 16 plays. Lion quarterback Joseph Herrera called his own number from a yard out. The Lions got the 2-point conversion this time with Booth getting the carry.
Down 20-7, Arroyo got a spark on a kick return that Noel Acosta returned deep into Lion territory to the El Monte 30. Nine plays later Calvillo got his second touchdown of the night. Calvillo was the workhorse for the Knights carrying the rock 31 times for 149-yards the the two scores.
Abel Cueva also made his mark on the game.
The Lions answered the Arroyo score with one of their own with 7:19 left in the final frame. A 12-play drive was capped by Booth’s second touchdown run this time of one yard.
Arroyo again answered with 8-play scoring drive that covered 63-yards. Joshua Tustin took the ball swept right and worked his way into the endzone. Piza added the extra point and with 4:45 the Knights trailed 26-21.
Arroyo chose to kick the ball deep and out of the endzone and keep the ball out of Booth’s hands and looked to make a stop and get the ball back. The plan didn’t work out though as the Lions ground up the clock and enough first downs to put the game away.
Arroyo will be back at home next week to take on South El Monte while El Monte will travel south to take on Mt. View.
please does someone have any stats on the last time that El monte beat Arroyo on there home field ? some say that its been over 20 years ?
@? in your DREAMS !!!!!!!!!
Is it true CIF going thru El Monte football rosters paperwork and that HC AD and PL are quaking in their Nike’s?
Anonymous, always posting while on her period. We’re you at the game girl?
Calvillo was the Arroyo Offense! Also, he had to turn right around and play defense! Be a good girl Anonymous and speak when spoken too. I credited EM for the win!
As for football fan lol you’re next recruit is already on the sidelines? Never ends with you guys. I’m calling fake news!
The last few years my favorite games have been against SEM, really looking forward to Friday. North Vs South! Loser goes home with no playoffs! Let’s go! We got this W in the bag! 42-21 oh by the way I’m sure the SEM RB will have 500 yards even in a loss lol they like to stuff the stats over there!!!
Do you fell like you have a bad HANG OVER after you play El Monte ? diagnosis is DOUBLE WING FOOTBALL and could last a few weeks just ask Rosemead …. wait till next years stack I with a 230 lb. back …….
Yes Get Back Coach, Calvillo was the best player on the field. Give me a break. I guarantee EM has at least two kids better or as good as him. Aside from Booth. I love the backhanded compliment btw. Give credit and move on. Don’t dilute your post with the Calvillo was the best player on the field bs. We get it bro, your feelings are all hurt because Arroyo sucks this year. It happens homie. You and your pops will have a confidence booster against the rest of the MVL. You guys better work hard or one of the bottom feeders will get you.
@ fnl it is what is, there’s no hypotheticals here this will go down in the books as a loss for arroyo and a win for El Monte and the only ones who will bring it up are people like u, who for years have been taking kids from sem, em, mt view but no one wants to talk about that right
Did anyone see at the Arroyo vs El Monte game a 6”1 230 kid on the sideline of El Monte rumor has it he’s the next transfer coming to El Monte looks the size of Elijah Penney ?
Recruit and you don’t have to coach. Lol
Without Booth this team wins 2/3 games if they are lucky. em coaches are a joke and got very lucky against a very bad arroyo team. Come playoffs this will change. If Arroyo was half decent they blow em out. As far as annoying parents yes that’s try but it’s at all schools not just arroyo.
Correction: Transfers 26 Crybabys 21….how embarrassing for Arroyo to keep crying about transfers. Arroyo boys showed selfrespct by playing hard but loser parents drag their image down by crying every week about 1 out of city transfer and 2 inter city transfers
Mr.Goldbricker always with the best comments never a homer. Just tells it like it is and should be.
@just classless
I gave arroyo and #21 all the credit and respect.
Build it and they will come!!!
Were you at the game? Did you see that EM not only had to play Arroyo but the refs???150 yards in penalties!
@Mr.Goldbricker you truly hit this nail, not every not every games going to be a blowout or pretty but games like this prepare a team for the playoffs, obviously you know football and win like this a good. Not like some of the Homer’s from Arroyo side or El monte side who will talk smack. I was anxious to see if Arroyo could stop Booth and I also wanted see if Arroyo would test Reyes and throw his way. Great game and Nice blog Mr.Goldbricker
Way to play guys! Keep it up!!
Damn dude, have some class
Arroyo has been getting Transfers the last 5 year’s. They were also stealing players from other local school’s. Enough with that Transfer B.S.. Thank’s Lions for shutting up that moron Friday Knights.
Transfers 26 – City transfers 21 but unfortunately for arroyo it will go down as a win EM 26 – arroyo 21
Was waiting for it. Definitely gotta get better, but handled. Come on now.
Transfers 26 Arroyo 21
EM will get handled in the playoffs. Watch out. This is what happens when you play good teams and you have to game plan. Props to em for grinding out the win but the future doesn’t look promising. Playoff teams will be better than this average arroyo team.
Did the refs miss an obvious class start on arroyo, I believe it was in the 4th qt when they were inside the 10
Agree, it was awful to see one side flags more than the points. Mean while, Knights was flag less than their TDs made. So many face masks and refs didnt see it. Good job of keeping the game close REFS.
Last night was what high school football is all about. Good smash mouth football on a perfect fall night. Now most people who think because the game wasn’t a blow out like everyone thought it would be that EM played bad… they didn’t ! They were really good especially when it mattered most. After EM blocked the punt and scored couple plays later, you got the feeling of here we go. But, Down 12-0 Arroyo got away from the up tempo attack and started to slow way down. They started to pound the ball themselves. The game became played In the trenches. Like a prize fight trading punches. Arroyo really had a shot to take the lead just before halftime, inside the 20 but had to settle for a FG attempt but missed the 32 yard field goal wide right. EM answered the second half with a resounding 8 minute 17 play drive for touchdown and converted the 2 point conversion. Devon Booth got the lions share of carries 25 carries 192 yards
And sealed the game with huge first down on 3rd and 4 on the final drive. Adrian Calvillo really showed his grit last night carrying the rock 32 times for 157.
Great game, EM showed some resolve last night that should propel them for a deep run. Arroyo showed some fight that showed they are a playoff team. Great game all around both teams should be proud. Now the shocker for me was the crowd! You would think this game would garner more attention the EM stands were really light and even the home stands weren’t all that filled. Fans, parents, alumni, faculty and students get behind these teams start showing more support. Good luck to both teams.
Referees did a wonderful job of keeping it 1st and 25 for El Monte. Their game plan was masterful!
First off FridayKnight you’re still a lame. But you’re right #21 is the best player on that team. And showed which ive said before is one of the best in the league. Arroyo went out there not to get blown out tonight and ate up the clock and when they had it close they thought they could win, which they could if tonight. Never threw the ball up field which was smart cause it would of been pick city. But congrats to them showing MVL is won through Arroyo and EM got through again.
@FridayNights I agree and respect this message. Arroyo boys should be proud they came to play tonight good job boys
I humbly congratulate the El Monte Lions. Job well done. This loss hurts but the better team won tonight. I’d also like congratulate #21 Adrian Calvillo was the best player on the field tonight. Without his gutsy effort this game is so different. Booth and Cuevas get all the publicity and deservedly so but Calvillo was a monster tonight. EM good luck the rest of the season.