Nick Bueno carries the load for Monrovia
(Monrovia) The Monrovia Wildcats (1-1) scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to pull away to a 34-7 win over the visiting Arcadia Apaches (0-2) Friday night to open play in front of a packed house in the new Monrovia stadium.
“It means more than I thought it would to be honest with you. It’s Arcadia, a brand new stadium. It’s not just a ball game. It meant a lot to the kids,” commented Monrovia head coach Ryan Maddox.
The setting was perfect for a a show and Monrovia’s Nick Bueno put on a stellar performance. The senior quarterback was 11 of 17 for 195 yards and two touchdowns through the air and if that wasn’t enough, carried the ball 12 times for 205 yards and two more scores.
In a preview of what might be coming for Wildcat opponents, Bueno started Monrovia’s first series lined up at tailback with George Frazier under center. The six yard gain on the first play from scrimmage wasn’t huge but it was enough to make opposing defensive coordinators shudder.
It wasn’t until their second drive that the Wildcats got on the board. Bueno found Jay Henderson on a 19 yard catch and run. The two point conversion failed and Monrovia had a 6-0 lead.
With 11:51 left in the second quarter, Bueno showed off the speed that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep when he found a seam in the Apache defense and motored 53 yards to paydirt. Mason Bryant added the extra point to push the lead to 13-0.
When asked about the difference between Bueno’s performance last week and last Maddox stated. “Last week Nick was trying to do too much and pushed himself too much. Tonight he just relaxed and played like himself.”
The lone Arcadia highlight came as time was running out in the first half. Myles Carr found David Maldonado over the middle and the Apache speedster got through the Monrovia secondary for the score. Gavin Carpenter added the extra point to cut lead to six.
It was a rough night for Carr as the junior quarterback was hounded by the Wildcat defense all night. Carr only completed 11 of 25 passes for 83 yards and the lone touchdown. Carr’s favorite target Taylor Legace was held in check and caught only two passes for seven yards.
Monrovia dominated the second half on both sides of the ball scoring three times. Christian Blanco accounted for one score on a five yard run and Bueno and Henderson took care of the other two.
Bueno on a 78 yard bolt of lightening and Henderson on a eighth yard pass from Bueno. Henderson set up his score by making a highlight reel catch on a 36-yard pass from Bueno earlier in the drive.
The Wildcat win give them a little momentum going in to next weeks game against San Dimas. Monrovia will be looking to exact a little revenge for the 12-7 loss in last years Mid-Valley Division championship game.
Arcadia will look to get on track next week against the Temple City Rams in the Brawl for the Mall.
Summary:
Arcadia 0 7 0 0
Monrovia 6 7 14 7
1:02 1st Qtr: Henderson 19 yards from Bueno (2pt conv. Failed)
11:51 2nd Qtr: Bueno 53 yard run (Bryant kick)
00:02 2nd Qtr: Maldonado 28 yards from Carr (Carpenter kick)
3:17 3rd Qtr: Blanco five yard run (PAT failed)
1:16 3rd Qtr: Bueno 78 yard run (Bueno 2pt Conv.)
9:53 4th Qtr: Henderson eight yards from Bueno (Bryant kick)
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