By Rich Whittington
(El Monte) The El Monte Lions found just enough offense to edge the visiting Mt. View Vikings Friday evening, 12-7, in front of a spirited Homecoming crowd at El Monte Stadium.
The game was played almost entirely on the ground. Of the 108 plays that were run, only five were passing plays. This provided a quick- passed contest, that saw the clock stop only for changes of possession, an occasional injury, and for the myriad of penalties that seemed to haunt both teams.
El Monte posted the first score of the contest, when RB Saul Sanchez found the end zone on a 1-yard TD blast with 3:00 remaining in the opening quarter. The 2-Point PAT attempt was unsuccessful, giving the Lions a 6-0 lead as the fist quarter came to a close.
El Monte increased their lead in the second quarter…on virtually the exact same play. Sanchez’s second 1-yard run, and the second unsuccessful 2-Point PAT attempt, made the score 12-0, with 8:44 remaining in the period. This would end the scoring for quarter #2, giving El Monte a 12-0 lead at the intermission.
Quarter 3 provided a fair share of excitement. Mt. View had the ball, 1st and goal, from the El Monte 3-yard line, when quarterback Enrique Ochoa fumbled. The ball was recovered by El Monte’s Jimmy Gonzales, giving El Monte the ball on their own 1-yard line, momentarily ending the Mt. View scoring Threat. As one good “turnover” deserves another, El Monte RB Nathan Guevara would record a fumble of his own. The ball was recovered by the Viking’s Jared Gonzalez, giving Mt. View possession, 1st and goal, on the EM 9-yard line, as the third stanza came to a close.
Mt. View cut the lead to 12-7 early in the games final period, when Ochoa scored on a 9-yard TD run. Diego Hernandez’s added the PAT to end the MT. View scoring. The Vikingss would have one final opportunity. With 1:40 remaining in regulation, and Mt. View driving, Ochoa was intercepted by Lion’s CB Aldieri Montero, thusly ending the threat, and securing the victory for EMHS.
The Lion’s (2-4, 1-1 in Mission Valley League play) next game is scheduled for 10/15/21, when the Lions will host the South El Monte Eagles, in the annual Griffin Bowl. Mt. View’s (2-4, 0-2 in the MVL) next contest, also on 10/15/21, is a home affair against the Gabrielino Eagles. Game time for both battles is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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