By Duane Barker
(Pico Rivera) El Rancho’s Elijah Mitchell tossed four touchdowns all to Jacob Jimenez in a 38-28 victory over the visiting Cal Condors on homecoming night kicking off Del Rio League play at El Rancho High School.
The four touchdown grabs by Jimenez went two for 40-yards, one for 79 and the final was for four yards with a Condor defender draping Jimenez on a slant.
El Rancho got the ball to start the game and immediately went on a 11-play drive down into Cal territory. When the drive stalled, Jacob Medina came on to boot a 30-yard field goal.
There was a bit of controversy prior to the field goal as the referee was not going to allow Medina to use a flat field goal tee. This type of tee has been in use in high school games for as long as anyone can remember. After a bit of discussion, the tee was allowed.
The field goal was the only score in the opening frame.
Early in the second quarter the Dons got on the board on the first of the 40-yards touchdown strikes from Mitchell to Jimenez. The Don’s were set up with decent field position when the Condors went for it on fourth and eight on the El Rancho 34. Cal’s Daniel Torres’ pass fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs.
On the ensuing drive for Cal, the Condors only needed one play to get on the board. Vance Johnson took the handoff, broke through the Don’s defense and outraced the defenders to paydirt. Sebastian DeLeon came on to boot the extra point to cut the El Rancho lead back to three.
El Rancho came right back to increase their lead back to 10 on the second 40-yard bomb from Mitchell to Jimenez.
Things got interesting again as Johnson took the ensuing kickoff 62-yards down to the Don 28. Two plays later Torres found Jesse Hernandez in the back of the endzone for the score. DeLeon again booted through the extra point.
With time winding down in the first half, Mitchell dropped back to pass and aired one out in the direction of who else…Jimenez. Jimenez hauled in the pass deep behind the Condor defense for 79-yards and the touchdown.
Cal’s last drive of the first half and the first of the second half were stopped on two back breaking interceptions by Isaiah Paulo after the Condors had marched into El Rancho territory.
Both times the Cal defense held, forcing the Dons to punt.
With 5:13 left to play in the third, the Condors again got to within three of the lead. A short El Rancho punt put Cal on the El Rancho 35 first and ten. Two plays later Torres found Hernandez for the second time on a 30-yard touchdown pass.
The Dons again answered the Condor score marching 70-yard on nine plays with Mitchell’s fourth td pass to Jimenez. When Medina added the extra point, the lead was back to 10. Mitchell finished the evening hitting on 17 of 29 passes for 291 yards and the four scores.
Jimenez hauled in six catches for 169 yards and four td’s
Early in the fourth, El Rancho finally got a little breathing room with a 2-yard touchdown plunge from Anthony “Bobo” Bonilla. Medina again added the extra point for the 17 point advantage. Bonilla was the workhorse on the ground for El Rancho grinding up 123-yards on 26 carries.
The Condors were not quite finished taking the ball 74-yards on 12 plays and Torres finding Alex Petigny 12-yard catch and carry with 4:35 left to play. DeLeon added the extra point to once again cut the lead to 10. Torres completed 17 of 28 for 170-yards and three td’s but two costly interceptions.
Cal managed another stop on defense forcing El Rancho to punt with 4:12 showing on the clock. Petigny returned the short punt out to his own 46.
Needing to score in rapid fashion, Torres first pass in the direction of Petigny fell incomplete. His second two were completed to David Ramos II but only for short gains. On fourth and four Torres was chased out of the pocket but couldn’t get away from the Don defense and was sack to end the drive and essentially the game.
Bonilla came on and on two consecutive carries got a first down for the Dons which was all they needed to take a knee and run out the clock.
Next years schedule wish list: Santa Ana, Don Lugo(2 year deals) Garfield, Arroyo, San Dimas, Bonita. Almont League teams don’t make us better right now. Not ready for the San Gabriel Valley League yet.
🤣 💀 😂
Gotta love these trolls … actually this ONE 😂
Whittier Friday … another bird BBQ!!!! 😂
Typical losers, get your kicked on the field and resort to anonymous personal attacks. Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, That family you are throwing shots at is perfectly imperfect the way we all are. Doesn’t surprise me, everyone hates on those who are at the top.
When El Rancho gets blasted by La Serna you all should go complain and gripe about how you were cheated. Remember last years game. How bout all the Ranch homies can go to Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet and cry your tears listening to
Lil Willie G of The Midnighters. A nice end to the evening. You can all get drunk and start fights.
We need to stop giving that dude any attention, we know it’s the biggest scum bag in Pico Rivera who constantly tries to stir the pot on here.
I wouldn’t be able to tell you the first thing about tradition. My HS teammates don’t event remember me. When I wake up my feet are numb and I can’t even see my own feet. I talk a lot. I spend my days on here commenting like most unemployed ER parents do.
@LS: You better check your teams roster on Max Preps. 65% of your team is Corona drinking, Raider Gear wearing, Geezers going Mexicans. It would serve La Serna posters right if these players protested and refused to go to practice.
You are oblivious and miss informed. Do a little research before you post.
Proof is in the pudding. You quack like a duck, walk like a duck and look like a duck chances are you are a duck. You see their constant postings same analogy. A racist is a racist. You sir are on point
still cant say what transfers La Serna has can you,
@?,
It’s sad to see. You see it all over the place. Pomona to La Verne, Azusa to Glendora, Pico Rivera to Whittier. Third generation Latinos who “get out” of their town and move away, only to bash their old stomping grounds as “ghetto” when in fact, those very same people would be nothing without that old stomping ground. Lots of Pico Rivera transplants in East Whittier who snub their noses at their old neighborhood school; but this is not unique to Pico Rivera. It’s everywhere
Lol… this guy is still trolling 😂
How did the view look from under the scoreboard? 🙊 oops… did I say too much 😂
Funny thing is you slowly being put out on blast 😂
But now I understand why you hate ER success so much … it makes sense Anonymous… you made your bed , now sleep in it 😂
“Whittier district kids “- riiiiiiiiiiight 😂
Whoever brings majority of Whittier kids to one school better be good! Y’all know how big Whittier is… HUGE.
EL Pescador in Montebello? yeah really classy place. At least you get out of Pico for the day.
What La Serna transfers are you talking about? They are all Whittier District kids, But better coached.
You clowndors are so butt hurt it’s hilarious.
@Anonymous: Trash talk is running again and thats OK but why La Serna fans do yout posts always lean racist. WHY? Raider Gear, Corona Beer, Geezers Restauraunt? Especially when without your Latino transfers you would be lucky to beat Pioneer. What the heck is wrong with you LS fans? You are insulting your own players!!
No raider gear actually Cowboys gear haha and the hangout after ER games is @ El Pescador in Montebello. Nice try on the stereotype though.
I’m glad someone finally said it – it is better when teams are competitive in league play by building up their program from the ground up. Medrano has done that with ER as they are more competitive than ever, which just makes for better league games.
It is a much better argument than saying that stronger teams, like La Serna, should just up and leave for stronger leagues. The DRL is becoming more competitive overall. Cal seems to be trending in the right direction but still has a ways to go, and Whittier seems to compete from time to time as well. Santa Fe is in rebuilding mode (they might become the new Pioneer though, unfortunately) but hopefully these Whittier/Pico programs just keep improving.
Good luck to everyone in the next few weeks.
Haha typical El Rancho/Pico types. All in your Raider gear wearing your corona hats. Hanging out at Geezers. Second place is good. You don’t have a prayer beating
La Serna. But walk proud for a few weeks homie.
I love what The Ranch is doing. Seeing local teams succeed is always awesome Arroyo, El Monte, South Hills etc… over the years. But let’s win first ER keep reading compete against LS only reason is because you’re In the same league but the games since 2011 haven’t been to competitive one close game and one victory, the rest have been blow outs. The record against Cal isn’t like LS against ER either it’s like 6-4 ER. Even a loss to LS but a ring is big I’ve seen parents say as long as we win LS, hell no. It’s only the ring that matters
@Anonymous,
Umm hmm, we’ll see. Cal’s current team was supposed to be “The Team” because they too were kicking butt at The LOWER level. How’d that workout? So that proves what? Glad to see yall humble now
Hahaha are you really bragging about your Sophomores beating El Rancho’s freshmen, El Rancho has no sophomore class, so hey maybe you’ll have a small shot to win on varsity in 2023. Don’t believe it? Check your roster on maxpreps. Don’t forget your current senior class as freshmen beat El Rancho by 40+ points, and it still did not matter on Friday night. You clowndors are hilarious.
Great win El Rancho. You proved you were the better team on the playing field.
And @ERMartillo, for what it’s worth. Cal is building a good foundation of underclass players. The Frosh/Soph team beat El Rancho 52-0 and it’s wasn’t even that close. If Cal can develop these players then the future looks bright for the Condors. Not taking away anything from El Rancho’s well deserved win. But we’ll see what the next few years become. The Del Rio League is better when all the teams are competitive.
As long as George and Medrano are at LS and ER it’s them 2 and everyone else will battle for 3rd, Cal finished 3rd in 2014 and 2017 under Kyle Trudell. Unless you have a Terris Jones or Nick Grigsby or another Levier boy waiting in the wings then I don’t see it. Cals only edge was Vance Johnson and looks like that ship is about to sail, keep winning them 7 on 7 tournaments though, they mean so much.
Keep working young men! Enjoy this win over Cal and homecoming! Back to work Monday, beat Whittier! Go El Rancho! BLUE PRDE!
It’s only Zamora’s 3rd year and they’ve gone 3rd and 2nd and are now competing with ER and LS who are both established. Whatever Cal is doing it is working. The precious coach only got 3rd once during his tenure. I’m glad I took my son to Cal.
Yeah Cal Hi and it’s obnoxious fans eating humble pie right now. Don’t sulk to long LA Serna coming at ya next week. Let’s hear your trash talk now and how your strong 7 on 7 and non league season made you world beaters.
@Fake Ranch18, you’re a shameless troll and you should be ashamed of yourself, IDIOT. People like you should be railed by Karma. Bad things coming your way
Another thing. I don’t know why people act surprised by ER’s success. They have made multiple playoff runs since Medrano took over and always seem to only be second place to La Serna.
Lol this is nothing new, ER finished 9-4 in 2018, 9-3 in 2019, and currently sitting pretty at 7-0. You act as if we’re surprising people.
At the start of the season La Serna’s CP power rating was 31.8 and El Rancho’s was 1.8. A 30 point edge is huge. Almost pointless to play that team. As of yesterday it was La Serna 25.8 El Rancho 19.8. A very remarkable change as Cal Preps algorythms don’t move that much. These are the ratings used to place you in the new play-off system. They take into consideration strength of schedule as a major factor. Far more important than wins and losses and yet El Rancho keeps doing the Jeffersons. Clearly the momentum is in Pico Rivera even if La Serna beats El Rancho. Teams will be circling the El Rancho game in team rooms again.
Fat, skinny, short, tall, black, brown, black, don’t change the fact that the ranch won Friday night, kinda sad that whoever you are you won’t say these things in person or with your real name because you are scared.
Guys my weight is a cry for help. I struggle to get out of bed in the morning. I’m pushing 400. Also, I’m a national champ.
I’d love to say that would be true, but honestly he had been shut down all 2nd half so I doubt it.
*4 and 6
Vance is a great player
But NO WAY he would have changed the outcome … if not for 1-PLAY THAT HE BROKE FOR 75 yards …. he would only have 50yards for the night
WE SHUT DOWN VANCE … y’all just keep reaching 😂
I used to say it was Mike Hobbie from San Marino, but now it is Adrian Medrano who gets the most out of his players than any other coach around. He talks about his QB getting better every week but he also gets better as a coach every year.
La Serna and ER will be the 2 teams from the Del Rio 2 play in the playoffs but both will not go far . They will play real competition not like Cal Whittier or Santa Fe. Get ready for playoffs don’t worry about Pico LS fans and Pico fans don’t worry what LS clowns say.
St Paul had him, and as always when they have the Pico Rivera kids they only use them for their tuition payments, what did they do? they went and recruited a QB from Northern California, if I’m a Pico Rivera kid I’m steering clear of that program like the plague, they are not going to give you a shot stop drinking the Kool aid, it’s bitter af. The proof is in the pudding, a lot of people might act as if this is a surprise, but Adrian Medrano has been doing this, in 2016 he inherited a 1-9 team and led them into the quarterfinals eventually losing to the CIF champs, 2018 Semi Final losing to the CIF champs, 2019 Quarterfinals lost on the last play of the game 80 miles away in Hemet. I won’t count spring 2021 it’s really not indicative of what this program has been over the last 5 years. 7-0, Monster QB numbers, a balanced offense, an agressive D that flies around, don’t get any better than that… well it could if we start landing more of our PR kids.
That’s just loser talk. If we can compete and even beat La Serna in week 9 then we can beat any of the teams you mentioned, in preseason it was “ER might to 5-5” after preseason it was “here come the losses to the real teams like cal hi with a tough schedule” the reality of it all, it wasn’t even that close, Jacob Jimenez didn’t play the whole 4th quarter or he might’ve had a 5-6 touchdown night. Now the talk will shift to “you’re playing for 2nd place.” Can you for once give credit where credit is due. Goes to show you spring results meant nothing, 7 on 7 results meant nothing, 7-0 means everything today and you can never take that away from this team and program.
Aw sorry ER spoiled your night DRW. A 4 and 4 3rd place team won’t make the playoffs. They better not over look Whittier High cuz they just might end up 3 and 5
Hoping that Vance Johnson #21 is not badly injured. The guy is beast. I’am sure if he was 100% in the 4th quarter the game would have been a nail biter in the last minute. An update about him would be nice.
Yeah this playoff system is going to suck. A 10-0 or 9-1 ER team gets Upland, CO, La Mirada in the first round and maybe even on the road that’ll suck. I much rather see them get a #1 seed in D10 possibly run the whole division. It’s all about that ring!
Calm down with the SJB talk. But yeah the kid is a stud of a QB
Well El Rancho blew it. If they run the table and beat La Serna they will probably end up playing in D4 or D5. St. Francis, St. Paul, Glendora etc. Cal on the other hand will move down to D8 maybe even D9 and get a wild card entry to very winnable division. For all intents and purposes the next 3 games are El Rancho’s playoffs. They could very well wake up to play-off Sunday selection day being 10-0 and finding out they play wild-card entry like 4-6 Oaks Christian or 5-5 Upland in round one. May as well gun for that 10-0 because unless this team turns into the Incredible Hulk in the next 3 weeks they are toast in the playoffs. Over achievers are not rewarded in this new play-off system. Under achievers are like La Habra and La Mirada.
@Anonymous, that all you got?
@Pac5Scout
Actually he has only been in the program two years and his Junior year (spring) he had to sit out the whole year to become eligible…
Imagine if he came to ER as a freshman!!!
And never drank the Kool-aid from “🤮”
Either way, he’s showing how good he is and how good Medrano is with QBs … all in one year ! And this kids not done in HS … he needs to see his full potential and continue to play after HS
The battle for 2nd place.
Good thing this Elijah kid never got a chance before. If he had, recruiters from La Habra to St. John Bosco and all programs in between would have been all over this guy and he would have never seen an El Rancho jersey. Or then again maybe he went to exactly the right school. Rumor is this staff knows how to get the max out of is players.
Thanks for the HOCO gift Cal really appreciate what you did for The Ranch