By Rich Whittington
(El Monte) – The visiting South El Monte Eagles spoiled the El Monte Lions homecoming celebration Friday evening, 42-8, in the 2023 installment of the annual Griffin Bowl, held in front of a very enthusiastic crowd at El Monte’s Lions’ Stadium.
El Monte opened the scoring for the evening, when running back Felipe Taboada found the end zone on a 10-yard run. The 2-point PAT was successfully converted by quarterback Brandon Do, making the score 8-0 with 8:16 remaining in the opening quarter.
Unfortunately for the Lions, this is when everything went “South”. South El Monte answered El Monte’s challenge, putting together an 11 play, 74-yard scoring drive that ended with a 15-yard TD connection from quarterback Matthew Medina to his favorite target, receiver Tony Aguilar. The PAT was added by Michael Valencia, making the score 8-7 as the first quarter ended.
The Eagles continued their scoring display in the second quarter. Valencia, from his Running Back position, scored on a 31-yard run. For good measure, he also converted the PAT attempt, making the score 14-8 with 6:56 remaining in the half.
SEM scored again in the quarter, as Medina found wideout Nathan Mendoza for a 36-yard catch-and-run. Another Valencia PAT, and the score was 21-8 as the first half ended.
South added even more points in the third quarter. Medina tossed his third TD of the evening, finding tight end Saldana for a 10-yard score. The PAT was converted by Angel Valladares, making the score 28-8 with 9:00 remaining in the period. The Eagles scored for a second time in the quarter, as Valladares took a page out of Valencia’s playbook by scoring the TD, a 25-yard jaunt, and by converting his own PAT. This made the score 35-8 as the third quarter came to a close.
Valladares would repeat this trick in the fourth quarter, scoring on a 1-yard TD blast, and then successfully converting the PAT attempt. This occurred at the mid-point of the game’s closing quarter, making the score 42-8, in favor of the Eagles. This would prove to be the game’s final score.
El Monte (1-5, 0-1 in Mission Valley League play) continues their league season next Friday, as the Lions will host the Arroyo Knights. South El Monte (6-0, 1-0 in the MVL) continues their Mission Valley tour, as they travel to Rosemead to play the Panthers on Thursday October 5.
@watcher
EM staff has some coaches that won some big games so I really thought they’d bring EM back in a more sustainable way than the previous coach. Really disappointing.
SEM definitely looks like the cream of the crop definitely the favorites to win league.
Rosemead showing life was really cool I want these games close like the good old days
Heard some guys got cleared at Rosemead that’s transferred in didn’t look had the few drives I seen. Might be second in MVL, South is clearly the top dawg. Arroyos name will get them third not their coaching that’s for sure. If mv can stop people they could beat em. This em staff is the most average in the valley you could give them good team they’ll still go 5-5 and out in the 1st round.
Get back coach, Don’t you dare say something dumb!
You guys played gab 🤦🏽♂️ my money is on El Monte beating y’all
Yawn…………….
Just a butt whooping last night. Eagles looked more physical more athletic and even more prepared. Medina can sling the ball but it’s the balance that makes the Eagles offense go. On Defense the front is big and physical El Monte tapped out at halftime. Rosemead sounds like the showed some life but I think the Eagles should win that one. EM will face arroyo and probably get whooped again. Pretty disappointed in the lions showing I was hoping the lions would make significant strides with this staff but it just hasn’t happened yet.
Ig we still haven’t played no one 😭😭
What’s a lion 🦁