Gene Valdez accounts for four scores and leads the Swordsmen pass Harvard Westlake.
We continue our “One Year Ago” series as we move into Week 8 of last year. Duane Barker was on hand to see St. Paul pummel Harvard Westlake on October 18, 2019.
By Duane Barker
(Sante Fe Springs) – The St. Paul Swordsmen hosted the Harvard Westlake Wolverines Friday night at “The Pit” on the campus of St. Paul High School and on homecoming night, the Swordsmen handed the Wolverines a sound 49-7 defeat.
It didn’t take long for St. Paul to take a 7-0 advantage. Gene Valdez called his own number from 11-yards away to complete a seven-play 63-yard drive. Miles Mena added the extra point for good measure.
Five minutes later the Swordsmend found paydirt again when Valdez found Angel Garcia from 29-yards away. Again Mena added the extra point for the 14-0 advantage.
On the defensive side, Garcia also pitched in with a pair of interceptions one of which led to the third score of the first quarter for St. Paul. Garcia picked of Wolverine quarterback Marshall Howe and returned the ball 35-yards to the endzone. The return however was called back for a block in the back but St. Paul was still on good field position at the Harvard Westlake 35. Two plays later Tyler Adams scored on a 19-yard run.
Angel Garcia gets a score on both sides of the ball for St. Paul
With 7:48 remaining in the first half, Valdez found paydirt for the second time of the on ground on a two yard run. The score was set up by a 73-yard catch and run from Valdez to Garcia.
St. Paul pushed the score to 35-0 with a defensive touchdown from non other than Mr. Garcia. With his second pick of the evening Garcia returned the ball this time 30-yards with no flags on the play.
The second half was more of the same for St. Paul who tacked on two more touchdowns, one in the third on a Valdez toss to Nathan Saldana and a 56-yard scamper by Adams.
A running clock was in place for the fourth quarter and the Wolverines got their loan score. With a first and ten at their own 19, AJ Holmes got the pitch at went around the left side, hit the jets and outraced the Swordsmen defenders to paydirt.
The win keeps St. Paul tied a top the Del Rey league with St. Anthony with a 2-0 league and 6-2 overall record. The Swordsmen will host St. Anthony next week in a potential league title matchup.
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