By Tim Peterson
(Covina) – Keanu Tauvao ran for four touchdowns and Northview scored six on the ground overall in a 41-6 pounding of Muir Thursday night to kick off the 2023 season at Covina District Field.
Angel Barraza had the other two scores for the Vikings who piled up 237 yards on the ground. Northview was forced punt on its first possession but the Mustangs fumbled it and the Vikings recovered at the Muir 45. It was all Northview from there. Four plays later Barraza scored on a 3-yard run for a 7-0 lead.
On the next series a short punt left Northview at the Muir 24. The Vikings needed just three plays this time as Tauvao went 14 yards for a score and a 14-0 advantage with 5:32 left in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter Tauvao capped a 12-play drive with a 12-yard touchdown jaunt to make it 21-0. More of the same on the next series as the Vikes stopped the Mustangs on fourth down at the Muir 38, then promptly marched in on four plays with Tauvao doing the honors from a yard out.
Muir finally caught a break with 4:24 left in the first half when a bad snap over the head of Northview quarterback Erik Jimenez was recovered in the endzone by Muir’s Victor Soto for a touchdown. It was the Stangs only score of the night.
Northview was right back at it on the next possession driving 78 yards on 13 plays with Barraza finding paydirt from a yard out.
The Vikings added their final score of the night with 4:48 left in the third when Tauvao raced right up the gut for an 18-yard touchdown and a 41-6 final.
It was a running clock in the fourth quarter. Jimenez added some yards through the air for Northview as well throwing for 112 yards on 9 completions. Tarvao finished with 137 yards on 15 carries and the four scores while Barraza had 19 carries for 83 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Viking defense shut down Muir’s passing attack as they intercepted Muir quarterback Brandon Valencia three times. Juan Alcaraz had two of those picks. Valencia threw for just 72 yards for Muir with 50 of those going to Alexander Miller.
Muir turned the ball over five times. Meanwhile Northview was turning it into a rout and was off and running to a 1-0 start.
Next week Northview travels to Las Vegas to take on Sierra Vista while Muir takes on St. Puis X.
Way to start the season NV .
If there’s one thing you can count on with Muir, it’s inconsistency. Seems they’re either hot or cold, seldom anything in between. Congratulations to Northview; here’s hoping you guys can be consistently good in the weeks to come.