Jose Perez wreaked havoc on the Lion defense. (see interview with LP HC Brandon Rohrer)
(El Monte) – Jose Perez had a night to remember. The senior rushed for 248 yards and four touchdowns to lead La Puente to a 35-27 win over El Monte Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.
El Monte led 27-21 at halftime but was overpowered in the second half by Perez and the Warriors running attack as LP secured the win.
La Puente piled up over 300 yards on the ground overall. Lorenzo Dominguez and Joey Espinosa added to Perez’ total with another 86 yards.
“That’s what we want to do,” said La Puente Coach Brandon Rohrer. “We got a lot of guys back and our O-line did a great job. Jose did a great job tonight.”
It looked like a track meet in the first quarter with the two teams combining for 34 points. Manuel Santa Cruz hit Juan Ceballos on a slant and he got loose for a 29 yard touchdown on El Monte’s first possession.
La Puente came right back going 55 yards on four plays to get even. Perez scored the first of his four with a 42 yard run on a sweep left.
El Monte was forced to punt and Perez was on the loose again. On the second play of the series the Warriors ran the same sweep play. Perez turned it into a 57 yard sprint for a touchdown this time and it was 14-7 LP.
El Monte answered with a 43 yard touchdown run by Michael Jimenez on the ensuing series. But the snap on the extra point attempt was high and over the head of the holder and the extra point failed.
La Puente fumbled the ensuing kick off and the Lions’ Samuel Quinones came out of the pile with it at the Warrior 13. Two plays later Jimenez was in the end zone again from a yard out and El Monte was up 20-14.
Everybody caught their breath and headed to the second quarter. Santa Cruz hooked up with Josh Wu on a 31 yard touchdown pass and early in the second quarter the Lions were up by two touchdowns. That was the last time they scored.
“We started off really fast but we didn’t finish,” said El Monte Coach Joel Sanchez. “We have a sign in our locker room that says ‘Finish’ but tonight we didn’t.”
Dominguez capped a nine play, 53 yard drive with a 14 yard run later in the second and to cut it to six at the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, the La Puente was the one to finish in the fourth. Perez scored on a 14 yard run and after Santa Cruz was intercepted by Brian Avendano Perez iced it with a 66 yard TD romp with 1:20 left.
El Monte had the ball one more time but a Santa Cruz Hail Mary was picked off late in the game.
Despite the loss Jimenez played well. He rushed for 169 yards on 26 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns.
“On the positive side Jimenez had a great game. He made some big plays. Santa Cruz looked good at times too. But defensively we missed some tackles. We need to get better,” Sanchez said.”
Santa Cruz threw for 150 yards and Wu had three receptions for 84 yards and a score. But it wasn’t enough to offset La Puente’s ground game.
Ivan Vasquez started at quarterback for La Puente but left the game with an injury. He was replaced by sophomore Bryan Landeros who effectively managed the game.
“Ivan got hurt but Bryan came in and just did a great job,” Rohrer said of Landeros.
A moment of silence was observed before the game in memory of former El Monte quarterback Hector Urias (Class of 1981) who was killed at his auto body shop Tuesday night.
El Monte is at Covina next week while LP hosts Northview.
LP 14 7 0 14 35
EM 20 7 0 0 27
Summary:
1st Qtr:
EM 8:56 Ceballos 29 yd pass from Santa Cruz (Jacob Hurtado Kick)
LP 7:24 Perez 42 yd run (Rito Flores Kick)
LP 4:55 Perez 57 yd run (Flores Kick)
EM 3:12 Jimenez 43 yd run (Bad snap, PAT failed)
EM 2:36 Jimenez 1 yd run (Hurtado Kick)
2nd Qtr:
EM 8:29 Wu 31 yd pass from Santa Cruz (Hurtado Kick)
LP 5:27 Dominguez 14 yd run (Flores Kick)
4th Qtr:
LP 10:31 Perez 14 yd run (Flores Kick)
LP 1:20 Perez 66 yd run (Flores Kick)
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