By Tim Peterson
(Pico Rivera) – Nathaniel Flores intercepted Adrian Lopez’ pass in the endzone as time ran out and Bell Gardens held on to beat El Rancho 14-7 Friday night at El Rancho.
With the victory Bell Gardens spoiled the first Boys varsity football at the newly renovated stadium. The girls flag football team played a game there last week.
Neither team scored in the first half. El Rancho punted three times, was stopped on fourth down and also turned the ball over on a fumble.
Bell Gardens didn’t fare much better. The Lancers punted twice and also were stopped on fourth down and missed a 32-yard field goal. They moved the ball down to the El Rancho 16-yard line late in the second quarter but a sack of quarterback Michael Mendoza put them out of field goal position and the two teams went into the half tied at zero.
Bell Gardens broke through immediately in the third quarter as Isaiah Flores took the kickoff back 96 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
El Rancho then answered with a touchdown of its own on the ensuing kickoff return but it was nullified by a holding penalty.
The score stayed that way until the Dons made a monumental error late in the third quarter. El Rancho muffed a punt setting up Bell Gardens at the Dons 16-yard line. Three plays later Mendoza hit Andres Espinal on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 11:52 left in the game. Espinal then added the extra point and it was 14-0.
Things looked bleak for El Rancho when a sudden turn of events gave the Dons new hope.
With just over five minutes left Bell Gardens attempted a punt from inside its own 40 yard line. Matthew Argueta stormed though the BG line and blocked the punt. He not only blocked it but he scooped up the ball and rumbled 36 yards for the touchdown. Just like that the Dons were within a score.
El Rancho then stopped the Lancers and forced a punt. The Dons had one more shot as they took possession at its own 13-yard line with 1:44 left.
They managed to work the ball down to the Bell Gardens 34 behind the passing of Adrian Lopez and receiving of Ray Madrid III. But with only six seconds left Lopez heaved a prayer into the endzone and it was intercepted by Flores with no time remaining and the Lancers sideline erupted in celebration.
The Dons only score came from the defense as the offense never got any momentum going. Madrid ended up with 51 yards receiving and 20 rushing. Andres Centeno had five catches for 49 yards.
For Bell Gardens Mendoza threw for 113 yards and a touchdown and the Lancers had 67 yards rushing.
El Rancho was hurt by three turnovers including the muffed punt that led directly to a touchdown.
With the victory Bell Gardens improved to 2-0. El Rancho dropped to 1-1.
BG 0 0 7 7 14
ER 0 0 0 7 7
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Too many turnovers by ER, special teams and and early turn over in the beginning of the game.
del rio league watcher; and those are huge problems in their special teams. difficult to succeed consistently without quality special teams
IMO two huge things that the Dons seem to always have problems.Covering kickoff and punt returns and second converting in the red zone.
Great job BG its just the beginning of a great football year. Coach Rudy will get them there again.
What an exciting finish even though both teams looked like they need a lot of work. Turnovers and special teams play are the difference makers in this one. Offensive production seemed to be absent.
This old rivalry game usually has more on the line but it was nice to see the newly renovated stadium.
I sure hope coach Rudy can get our Lancers dialed in by league play.
Hats off to bg, this didn’t feel like week 1 2025, it felt like quarters 4-8 of the 2024 1st round playoff game. BG did what they had to do, ER needs a ton of work on offense, can’t be worried though, it will be figured out.