By George Hernandez
(Covina) – Northview scored and scored again in a 54-35 victory over Monrovia Thursday night at Covina District Field.
Angel Barraza got the night started for the Vikings on their first drive walking in from two yards out five minutes into the game.
The Wildcats answered right back when quarterback Brian Salazar threw a pass only his receiver could catch and Joshua Griffiths landed right in the end zone to tie the game up.
On the first play of the second quarter Northview got in the end zone from the air when Erik Jimenez hit Dwayne Thompson for a four-yard score.
The Cats were forced to punt on their next possession.
Keanu Tauvao got in on the scoring action for the Vikings when he shifted through the defense on a 19-yard run to paydirt making it 21-7.
Monrovia did answer this time with a six play 65-yard drive in under two minutes that was finished with a 19-yard pass from Salazar to Noah Ellison cutting into the lead 21-14.
Northview answered in under one minute when Thompson took a Jimenez pass 51-yards breaking tackles on the way to the end zone.
Wildcats were forced to punt but the punter missed the ball on the attempted kick and the defense fell on it. Three plays later Barraza was in the end zone putting the score at 35-14 with two minutes left in the half.
Monrovia did get on the board on their next possession with a quick 48-second drive that Griffiths finished off with a sweep from three yards out.
The Vikes had just over a minute left on the clock before half and drove the ball 54-yards on five plays in 46-seconds Barraza scored for the second time in the half making it 41-21.
The Wildcats had possession of the ball first the second half but we’re forced to punt.
Jimenez promptly hit Barraza with a pass who then passed the Wildcat defense and made it 48-21.
On the next Wildcat possession Thompson picked off a Salazar pass, then sophomore Matt Gonzalez and the Vikings capitalized with a three-yard score. A missed two-point conversion put it at 54-21.
On the next two Monrovia possessions Salazar would find Ellison on touchdown passes of 70 and 36-yards but it was too late.
The Vikings took a knee on their last possession.
Monrovia will stay on the road and travel to San Dimas next week while Northview will take a trip to Harvard Westlake.
Great game Vikings