By Ron Vrooman
(El Monte) – The El Monte Lions utilized a strong ground game and a hard-hitting defense to beat the visiting Alhambra Moors, 29-0, last Thursday night. The victory gave the Lions a 2-0 start, while the Moors fell to 0-2 on the season.
Sophomore running back Isaiah Standley carried the ball 11 times for 69 yards and two first-half touchdowns to lead the El Monte offense. Brandon Do, the Lions’ running quarterback, rushed five times for 32 yards and a second-quarter score which helped El Monte build a 21-0 halftime lead.
Running back Felipe Taboada gained 112 yards in 16 carries for the Lions. Starting quarterback Alex Aleman, a pocket passer, completed nine of 22 passes for 90 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown throw to wide receiver Noah Munoz late in the third quarter.
The Lions then scored a safety on the last play of the third quarter, when Alhambra punter Bryli Miguel received a bad snap from center and fumbled the ball out of the end zone.
El Monte rolled up 210 yards on the ground and finished with a total of 321 yards from scrimmage.
Alhambra quarterback Bryan Leonard ended up completing 11 of 28 passes for 142 yards, with no interceptions, after going only 2-for-11 in the first half. The Moors once again had extreme difficulty running the ball, rushing for -14 yards against the Lions.
Alhambra’s deepest penetration into El Monte territory was to the Lions’ 18-yard line just before the end of the game. The Moors recorded only eight first downs and lost three fumbles.
@ MVL Eye: El Monte just had to forfeit both of its nonleague victories for using an ineligible player. We’ll see if that changes the equation at all in the Mission Valley League; I think it could depend on who that player is.
This result paired with SEM defeat vs BMonty, and their struggle Alhambra zero week, makes Lions presumptive favorite for MVL crown