By Duane Barker
(Arcadia) A rival game between neighbors that hadn’t been played since 2016 was rekindled Friday night at Salter Stadium and the Arcadia Apaches probably wished they had waited a couple more years as the Monrovia Wildcats handed them a 57-17 loss.
In the 2016 game the Apaches were victorious squeaking out a 22-21 win. Tonight was the complete opposite for Arcadia as the Wildcats scored early and often.
On the opening kickoff, Arcadia who had won the toss and deferred to the second half, tried a squib kick that was not covered by the Apaches. Instead Jon Chavez scooped up the loose ball and outraced the Apaches 50-yards to paydirt. Dominic Cozza’s extra point was good and with only eight seconds gone off the clock Monrovia led 7-0.
The ensuing possession saw Arcadia mount a 15-play drive down to the Arcadia 11. When the drive stalled Fanbei Xu came on to boot a 28-yard field goal.
The Wildcats only needed one play to extend their lead back to 13-3. Brian Salazar took a pitch from Carlos Hernandez and fired a pass deep down the middle to a wide open Jaylen Moore. Moore did the rest completing the double reverse pass for the score.
Arcadia answered with a touchdown of their own on the ensuing drive. Derek Ganter Jr. hauled in 34-yard pass from Jonathan Maldonado to cap a nine-play 74-yard drive.
The ensuing kick off saw Amerion Edwards get free and down to the Apache 14. Three plays later Issac Hernandez got the call from one yard away.
The Apaches cut the lead to four with 6:26 left to play in the first half. Ty Pierson got loose on a 6-yard run finalizing a seven play drive. Pierson was one of the few highlights for Arcadia gaining 123-yards on 17 carries.
That would be a close as the Apaches would get for the rest of the game as the Wildcats score five unanswered touchdowns including three from Carlos Hernandez from Noah Rodriguez. Hernandez finished the night hauling in five passes for 87-yards and the three scores.
The Apaches were great hosts allowing Monrovia to start in the Arcadia side of the field on six out of 10 possessions due in large part on some rugged special teams play.
Leave a Reply