By Ron Vrooman
(Alhambra) – Erick Baray rushed for three touchdowns and Michael Gonzalez accounted for two more scores in the Alhambra Moors’ 49-14 first-round playoff victory over the visiting Santa Rosa Academy Rangers last Friday night.
Baray, a junior running back, gained 97 yards on 16 carries; all of his TD’s came on short runs in the second half. Gonzalez, who ran the ball nine times for 58 yards, scored Alhambra’s first touchdown on a 19-yard keeper in the opening quarter.
Although the Moors’ senior quarterback hit on just five of 12 passes for 58 yards, one of his completions was a 13-yard TD throw to running back Luis Sanchez that gave them a 21-0 lead.
The Rangers, a young team with only nine seniors on their roster, rallied for two touchdowns in the third quarter to make the score 21-14.
However, the Moors’ defense stiffened and they put their running attack into high gear, scoring 28 unanswered points to put the game away.
Junior running back Cyrus Wu was a key contributor for Alhambra, rushing for 131 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Sanchez, a senior, ran for 94 yards and a score in eight attempts.
The Moors rushed for a total of 402 yards against Santa Rosa Academy, which finished the 2021 season with a record of 4-5.
The Rangers’ quarterback, senior Adam Pinard, completed 17 of 31 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown. Their leading receiver was senior Jeremiah Park, who made seven catches for 87 yards and the one score.
The win improved the Moors’ season mark to 5-6, and they move on to a Division 14 quarterfinal game against the Hamilton High Bobcats in Anza on Friday. The Bobcats, champions of the South Valley League, have an overall record of 6-4.
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