MidValleySports.Com

By Ron Vrooman

 (Sierra Madre) – The La Salle Lancers scored twice in a two-minute span late in the fourth quarter to beat the visiting Alhambra Moors, 24-7, on Friday night.   

After Alhambra scored on a three-yard quarterback keeper by Bryan Leonard that cut La Salle’s’ lead to 12-7 with 7:34 left, the Lancers drove 59 yards following the ensuing kickoff to go ahead, 18-7. That touchdown came on a two-yard run by tailback Alexandros Darlas with 4:25 to go.   

The Lancers took over again at the Alhambra 42 after the Moors were unable to move the ball on their next possession and punted from their 17-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Ben Stoll hit receiver Ralph Viramontes with a 41-yard TD pass that gave the Lancers their final score at the 2:27 mark.       

Stoll, a junior, accounted for most of La Salle’s offense on the night, connecting on 19 of 33 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. He completed seven of his last eight passes, finishing with his 41-yard strike to Viramontes.   

The Lancers ended up with 320 yards from scrimmage, compared to 162 yards for the Moors.   

Alhambra missed a chance to take an early lead when a 40-yard field goal attempt by Bryli Miguel hit the crossbar and bounced out late in the first quarter. Following the touchback to the 20-yard line, La Salle drove 80 yards for its first TD, scoring on a four-yard run by Chris Cardenas with 7:16 left before halftime. The score remained 6-0 after the Lancers’ extra-point try was blocked by the Moors’ Christian Mina.    

The Lancers came up short on an opportunity to increase their lead prior to the break when they drove 57 yards to the Alhambra 3 but couldn’t get off another play before time ran out.    

The Moors got their best chance to go ahead early in the third quarter, when Adring Correa returned a punt 23 yards to give them the ball at the La Salle 17. However, on second down, Alhambra running back Halen Tsang fumbled at the six-yard line, and the Lancers recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchback.   

La Salle promptly capitalized on that reprieve, making the score 12-0 on a 10-yard TD pass from Stoll to receiver Michael Johnson seven plays later.   

The Moors got to within five points of the Lancers when they finally scored on Leonard’s short run in the fourth quarter, but their fate was sealed as their defense collapsed the rest of the way.    

Leonard completed nine of 20 throws for just 76 yards, while Tsang led all ballcarriers, running for 66 yards in 14 attempts. Alhambra fell to 1-3 in non-league play, while La Salle scored its first win of the season.