MidValleySports.Com

By Ron Vrooman

(Alhambra) – The Alhambra Moors survived a difficult start in Friday night’s game against LA Wilson, combining an offensive explosion with much-improved defense in the final three quarters to score a 42-21 victory.

 Alhambra found itself in a 13-0 hole after several early mistakes led to a pair of touchdowns by the visiting Mules. 

On the Moors’ first possession, an apparent 21-yard touchdown pass from Josh Calderon to Moses Llamas was nullified by a penalty. Two plays later, Calderon was intercepted at the Wilson 6 by defensive back Oscar Juarez, who returned the ball to the 27-yard line. The Mules then drove 73 yards in eight plays, scoring on a 15-yard pass from quarterback Devin Hernandez to receiver Derick Wagner with 4:55 to go in the first quarter. 

Two penalties and three unproductive plays on Alhambra’s next series led to a short punt which gave Wilson the ball at the Moors’ 42. On 3rd-and-5 for the Mules, Hernandez hit Wagner with a 34-yard strike that gave the Mules a 1st-and-goal at the Alhambra 3. Running back Gary Rodriguez scored on the next play, putting Wilson ahead, 13-0, at the 11:02 mark in the second quarter.

But, Max Vargas’ extra-point try was blocked by the Moors’ Chris Aguilar, who would prove to be instrumental in Alhambra’s comeback victory. Steven Escobar then returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to the Wilson 33, but it took one more big break for the Moors to get things going their way.

On 2nd-and-10 for Alhambra, Calderon threw a pass that was nearly intercepted by Rodriguez, who was in at linebacker for the Mules. However, the ball glanced off Rodriguez’s fingertips and into the hands of the intended receiver, slot man Zack Chacon, who raced all the way to the Wilson 2 before being tackled. Aguilar, who is now the Moors’ leading rusher, ran for a touchdown on the next play to cut Alhambra’s deficit to 13-7.

The Moors’ defense then made three successive stops, including a fumble recovery by free safety Aiden Calderon, to close out the second quarter, and Alhambra’s offense went to work. Josh Calderon, the Moors’ sophomore quarterback, capped an 89-yard drive with a one-yard plunge that tied the game at 13-13 with 4:28 remaining in the second quarter. Alex Zuniga then kicked the extra point to put Alhambra ahead for good.

The Moors got the ball again shortly before halftime, and Calderon hit Llamas with an eight-yard touchdown pass to increase Alhambra’s lead to 21-13 with just 14 seconds left before the intermission. 

Junior Nathan Rabadan ran 31 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter to make the score 28-13, and Aguilar added two more touchdowns on runs of 17 and 59 yards in the final period to put the game away for Alhambra. In the meantime, the Moors’ defense held Wilson to only 69 yards in the second half.

Aguilar, a senior, carried the ball 13 times for 160 yards in his best game so far. Calderon connected on 12 of 23 passes for 159 yards and the one touchdown, with two interceptions. The versatile Llamas, who started the season as a quarterback for the Moors, made five catches for 64 yards from the wide receiver and slot positions.

Alhambra compiled 368 yards in total offense, to 234 yards for Wilson. Penalties remained a serious problem for the Moors, who were called 18 times for a total of 97 yards. For their part, the Mules were penalized 12 times for 82 yards.

Hernandez, the Mules’ junior quarterback, completed 15 of 34 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns; he threw one interception. His top receiver was Wagner, who hauled in six throws for 134 yards, all in the first half. The Mules rushed for only 23 yards the entire game.

The victory lifted the Moors’ overall record to 2-2, while the Mules’ third consecutive loss dropped their record to 2-3.