By Geoff Hurts
[Bell Gardens] – Sierra Vista and Bell Gardens slugged it out in the first half. The Lancers took control in the second half and ended up with a 40-14 victory Friday night at The Garden.
The Lancers punted twice and the Dons fumbled twice in the first half. The lone score came on a 12-yard pass from Jacob Reyes to Gerardo Gutierrez to take a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
On the first play of the second half Sierra Vista quarterback Andre Mallory fumbled a handoff and gave the ball to Bell Gardens on their 15-yard line. A few plays later Gutierrez scored his second touchdown with a four-yard run.
On the kickoff return Gabriel Garcia fumbled and gave the ball right to the Lancers and three plays later Reyes then found the end zone with a 16-yard run to paydirt.
Another fumble by Garcia set up a Bell Gardens score this time from 20-yards out from Daniel Tovar making it 27-0 after a missed extra point.
A turnover on downs for the Dons would be next but they held up and forced a Lancers punt.
Sierra Vista got on the board for the first time midway through the fourth quarter when Robert Rodriguez pounded through the defense for a 10-yard run. The two-point conversion was missed leaving it at 27-6.
Tovar would break a 70-yard touchdown run for the Lancers making it 34-6.
Mallory carried the Dons up the field and finished it off with a one-yard quarterback keeper to make the score 34-14.
On the returning kickoff Julio Garciazo found a hole and with 11-seconds left in the game scored the touchdown for a 40-14.
The Dons go home to face Ontario next week while Bell Gardens will head to Pico and face El Rancho.
Nice way to open the season up great job coaches and kids. Next up the balck and blue game