MidValleySports.Com

By Ron Vrooman

(Alhambra) – Elias Navarro’s 13-yard touchdown run and Andrew Murguia’s extra point with 4:45 left in the third quarter were enough for the Schurr Spartans, who held on for a 7-0 victory over the host Alhambra Moors on Friday night.  

Navarro, a junior running back, was the most explosive player on the field, carrying the ball nine times for 145 yards in what was primarily a defensive struggle. Teammate Efrain Martinez added 21 carries for 78 yards.   

The Spartans managed 275 yards in total offense while holding the Moors to just 115 yards from scrimmage.   

The opposing quarterbacks both struggled in this game. Alhambra QB Bryan Leonard completed only four of 21 passes for 52 yards and had two of his throws intercepted. Joseph Alvarado of Schurr connected on just three of 15 passes for 50 yards.   

However, it was Alvarado’s final completion which set up the Spartans’ only score. Eric Montes, who had just given the Spartans the ball at the Alhambra 45 after intercepting a throw by Leonard, caught a screen pass from Alvarado and raced all the way to the Moors’ 13-yard line. Navarro ran it in on the next play.    

The Moors, who had gotten to the Schurr 27 in the first quarter before turning the ball over on downs, spent most of the game bottled up on their own side of the field.   

Down 7-0 in the fourth quarter, Alhambra finally drove 60 yards to the Spartans’ four-yard line. Then, on fourth-and-two, Anthony Rosales, who was at quarterback in the short-yardage situation, attempted to sprint around right end but was stripped of the ball. The Spartans recovered at the four and proceeded to take valuable time off the clock.   

The Moors eventually forced Schurr to punt, but they could only get to the Spartans’ 40, where another turnover on downs ended their comeback hopes.   

The Spartans’ win over Alhambra put them in a second-place tie with the Montebello Oilers, who lost to the Almont League-leading Bell Gardens Lancers. Schurr is now 2-1 in league play and 4-4 overall, while Alhambra fell to 1-2 in league and 3-5 overall.