By Tim Peterson
(Montebello) – The South scored twice in the fourth quarter to break a tie and went on to beat the North 19-14 Friday night in the Southern California All-Star game at Montebello High.
The game was tied at seven heading into the fourth quarter when the South took charge. First Dominic Ezeonye of Wilson scored on a ten-yard run to cap an 80-yard drive to give the South the lead. After the point after attempt failed South led 13-7.
Then the defense got into the act. Garfield’s Dom Vasquez picked off an Efren Torres pass and returned it 35 yards for a score to make it 19-7 with just 2:42 left in the game. The fat lady wasn’t singing yet but she was seen warming up behind the west endzone.
The North had one more murmur of protest when Everson Mathis hit Buena Park’s Nick Zamora on a 21-yard scoring strike with 32 seconds left to cut the margin to 19-14.
All that was left was an onside kick by the North which the South fell on to seal the deal.
After a scoreless first quarter the North struck first with 4:38 remaining in the second quarter with a little trickery.
Dominic Sars of Crescenta Valley hit another Falcon, Dominic Dipiazza, on a quick out who in turn found a wide open JaShion Wade of Duarte for a 59-yard touchdown. The double pass drawn up by offensive coordinator Jerry Urias gave the North a 7-0 lead.
The North took that lead into halftime. The South then got even in the third quarter on a five-yard scamper by West Covina’s Zander Requena that finished an 80-yard march.
It was knotted at seven at the end of the third quarter before the South pulled away in the final frame.
Ezeonye had a big night for the South rushing for 157 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. Requena added to the ground attack with 64 yards and a score.
The North had trouble getting any momentum going after the double-pass score in the second quarter. In the second half they punted on their first three possessions, before the pick-six before finally finding pay-dirt with under a minute left.
Caleb Morquecho of San Dimas played solid defense and had an interception in the first half to take home the Defensive MVP Award for the North.
MVP Awards
South
Offense- Dominic Ezeonye-Wilson
Defense- Dom Vasquez- Garfield
North
Offense- Nick Zamora -Buena Park
Defense- Caleb Morquecho-San Dimas
S 0 0 7 12 19
N 0 7 0 7 14
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I was on that team at Alhambra and I can definitely confirm he’s the best player I ever played against. Dom is a certified baller and should be playing at the D1 level with his size and speed
As usual the guys in the trenches names are never highlighted but yet are the first ones to go in the early rounds of the drafts and D1 recruitig.
Is the Wilson RB playing at the next level? He has a D-1 look which is. It common in the SGV.
I said right here early in the 2023 season that Dominic Ezeonye was a star in the making. He had just rushed for 259 yards and scored all five of Wilson’s touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 35-21 victory over Alhambra.
Dominic has that winning combination of power and speed; watch out the instant he gets into the open field. He should have a lot of football still ahead of him.