(Monrovia) The Monrovia Wildcats hosted the San Dimas Saints Friday night at Monrovia High School and were run over by a motivated Saints running attack who ran their way to a 48-28 victory.
Saint ball carriers Brian Freeland, Caleb Morquecho and Julian Vigil combined to amass 425-yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Vigil also had one through the air.
San Dimas got things started early in the opening quarter, driving 74-yards on eight plays with Vigil getting his first score of the night on a 44-yard pass from Jacob Gonalez. Troy Mejia added the extra point for the 7-0 lead.
The Saint defense held Carlos Hernandez and the Wildcat offense in check on their first drive forcing Monrovia to punt after five plays. Hernandez started the night as the Monrovia signal caller with Brian Salazar out with an injury.
Monrovia lined up to punt the ball away but the snap flew over punter Bryan Cote’s head and San Dimas recovered the loose ball at the Wildcat 15. Three plays later Vigil got his second score on a 10-yard run.
Down 14 Monrovia put together a 10-play 70-yard drive capped by a 32-yard pass from Jacob Calnon to Jaylen Moore. Cote booted through the extra point to cut the lead to seven. Calnon relieved Hernandez on a few plays at quarterback.
The Saints only needed a three play drive again to push their advantage back to 14. It was Freeland getting loose this time on a 44-yard run.
With 3:28 left to play in the half the Wildcats again cut the lead to seven when Marcel Jones sliced through the Saint defense and was off to the races 45-yards to paydirt.
San Dimas once again found its way to glory when Vigil finished off a 10-play drive with an eight yard run. Mejia’s point after this time was blocked but the Saints still had a 27-14 lead.
The ensuing kick off was fielded by Hernandez at his own 23 who weaved his way through the Saint coverage team, found a crease and was off to the races to the endzone.
The teams headed to the locker room at the break with San Dimas holding on to a six point lead 27-21.
Monrovia grabbed their first and only lead of the game to start the second half and only needed one play to do so. Hernandez called his own number on the first play from scrimmage and like a bolt of lightning stunned the San Dimas sideline with a 67-yard touchdown run. Cote added the extra point for the 28-27 lead.
The Saints responded with two scores of their own, a 9-yard run by Morquecho and another 9-yard run by Vigil.
Vigil finished the night carrying the ball four times for 65-yards and four total scores. Morquecho had 159-yards on 18 carries and the lone touchdown.
The big night belonged to Freeland who ran for 201-yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns, the second coming on a 25-yard run to cap the scoring.
Monrovia was a two man show with Hernandez rushing for 146-yards and two total touchdowns and Marcel Jones who added 115-yards and a score.
Monrovia’s defense was exposed a few weeks ago by a far less talented team, without their main qb Monrovia’s entire game plan goes out the window.
I’ve got 424 yards rushing on 44 carries, that’s 9.6 per attempt by a previously offensively challenged San Dimas squad ……. who’s the DC ? I guess they can cover pass lol
Remember in the summer when Monrovia staff was acting like they won the super bowl after a 7 on 7 tournament? Your humble sandwich has arrived