By Tim Peterson
(San Dimas) – Brian Salazar threw for 465 yards and three touchdowns to lead Monrovia to a 42-29 win over San Dimas Thursday night on the Saints home field.
Noah Ellison was Salazar’s favorite target hailing in six receptions for 198 yards including a 69-yard touchdown pass. Joshua Griffiths was the third part of the big three with five catches for 132 yards and two scores including a 55-yard TD strike from Salazar. Griffiths also had two touchdowns on the ground.
While Monrovia aired it out, San Dimas did the bulk of its damage on the ground piling up 375 yards and four touchdowns rushing. Caleb Morquecho led the Saints attack with 235 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 30 carries.
The Saints had their chances but were hurt by three fumbles that halted drives. Late in the fourth quarter, down by 13, San Dams marched down to the Monrovia 17-yard line but coughed it up and the Wildcats recovered. From there Monrovia was able to run out the clock.
In the first quarter the two teams exchanged touchdowns. Adrian Villalpando scored on a 10-yard run to cap a 65-yard drive. The extra point was missed and it was 6-0 San Dimas.
Monrovia countered with a quick 55-yard scoring pass from Salazar to Griffiths and the Cats were up 7-6. After Morquecho scored on a six-yard run Griffiths scored again on a short one-yard plunge to put Monrovia up 14-13 at the end of one.
Early in the second quarter Griffiths found paydirt again on a six-yard run to make it 21-13. The score stayed that way until halftime. The Saints had a golden opportunity to get close but the Wildcats stonewalled them on a fourth down at the one-yard line.
Timas Rodriguez booted a 27-yard field goal with 8:02 left in the third quarter to get San Dimas within five but the Cats immediately responded. It was Griffiths, who else? who caught a 16-yard toss from Salazer for a touchdown and it was 28-16.
Brian Jackson scored from six yards out with just 51 seconds left in the third quarter but the Cats, as they did all night, struck right back. 26 seconds later Salazar found Ellison deep and he sprinted to the endzone for a 69-yard score and M-Town was up by 11, 34-23.
Morquecho scored again for the Saints early in the fourth. But this time Monrovia’s answer was on the ground as Davonte Jones scored on a one-yard run.
San Dimas’ hopes were then dashed on the late fumble.
The two teams combined for 973 total yards with Monrovia piling up 514 of those yards.
Both teams are now at .500. Monrovia improved to 2-2 while San Dimas dropped to 3-3 with the defeat.
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