(South El Monte) The Montebello Oilers and the South El Monte Eagles brought their equal 1-1 records to “The Swamp” Friday night on the campus of South El Monte High School. The Oilers managed to slide by the Eagles and get a 13-6 win and improve to 2-1.
Both teams could not gain much traction in the first half and played to a 0-0 draw.
At halftime former Eagle running back Sal Tovar was recognized as he was added to the South El Monte Hall of Fame.
It wasn’t until 8:09 left in the third that either team saw movement on the scoreboard. Montebello’s Freddy Mendez fielded an Eagle punt at his own 23-yard line. Mendez broke a couple tackles from the first wave of Eagle defenders, picked up a couple of blocks and outraced South El Monte to paydirt. Donavan Murillo added the extra point and the Oilers led 7-0.
South El Monte broke their scoring drought with 3:30 left in the third. Matthew Meding found Tony Aguilar in the corner of the endzone from eight yards out. Angel Bautista missed the extra point and the Eagles trailed 7-6.
The score remained 7-6 until late in the final frame.
After a punt pinned South El Monte deep in their own end, the Oiler defense did their job forcing an Eagle punt from their own endzone. The punt was less than stellar and Montebello was in business at the Eagle nine.
On the next play from scrimmage Eddie Pimentel called his own number and knifed his way through the Eagle defense for the score.
Trailing by seven, South El Monte went on a drive and moved the ball down to the Oiler twelve yard line. With only two ticks left on the clock Medina lofted a pass in the direction of Julian Lopez. Lopez made a valiant effort on the ball but it was just too high and far and the ball fell incomplete giving the Oilers the win.
South El Monte will try and rebound from the loss on the road at Garey next week with Montebello will look to make it three straight wins with a matchup against El Rancho.
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