Quarterback Jose Nunez (left) accounted for three Aztec touchdowns. Steven Blount was the leading ground gainer
(Citrus College) – Jose Nunez threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and Azusa took advantage of seven turnovers in a 34-0 rout of Gabrielino Thursday night.
Azusa led only 13-0 at the half but pulled away in the second half with three scores including two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
The Aztecs have allowed just 10 points in three games and this was their second shutout.
“Our defense has been the heart of this team. It’s the best defense we have had in years,” said Azusa Coach Joe Scherf. “It seems like if one guy is a little dinged up someone else will always step up and replace him.”
The Aztecs held Gabrielino to 152 yards of total offense while racking up 400 of their own. Gabrielino had just 41 yards in the first half. Eagle quarterback Isaac Garcia was intercepted three times and Gabrielino fumbled four times.
Azusa struck on its first possession. The Aztecs took advantage of a short field and drove 34 yards six plays. Nunez hit Jesus Arteaga on a 14 yard touchdown pass.
In the second quarter, Jake Martinez capped an eight play drive with a six yard run. Martinez also had two 12 yard runs on the second and third plays of the march.
An Azusa drive stalled at the 14 yard line as time ran out in the first half. Gabrielino’s possessions in the first half ended in a punt, interception, fumble, punt, fumble, punt and interception.
Azusa got into the end zone again on the first drive of the second half as Abraham Ochoa got into the act. He caught a 46 yard touchdown pass down to the 14 yard line. Five plays later, Nunez went in from a yard out. Nunez then hit Eddie Franco on a two point conversion for a 21-0 lead.
While the Aztec D continued to shut down Gabrielino, the offense broke it wide open in the fourth quarter. Ochoa hauled in an 11 yard TD strike from Nunez as he fought off two Gabrielino defenders early in the period.
Two minutes later after yet another Eagle turnover, Desmond Reed went up the middle on a nine yard touchdown sprint. We’ve mentioned this before but Reed is no relation to the former Temple City and USC star of the same name.
Nunez finished 9 of 18 for 142 yards and two touchdowns and an interception. Ochoa had 4 catches for 87 yards and a score. Arteaga had four receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown.
The Aztecs had over 200 yards rushing with Steven Blount leading the way with 77 yards on 17 carries. Bryan Nieto had four carries for 44 yards. Nieto also picked off two passes. Nunez, who does a little bit of everything for Azusa, had the other interception.
Eddie Moreno had 49 yards rushing for Gabrielino and also caught a pass for 12 yards.
Gabrielino fell to 2-2 while Azusa remained undefeated at 3-0.
Scherf is pleased so far with the way his team has performed.
“This is probably the best team overall since I’ve been here-both offensively and defensively,” he added.
G 0 0 0 0 0
A 7 6 8 13 34
Summary:
1st Qtr:
A 8:18 Arteaga 14 yd pass from Nunez (Nunez Kick)
2nd Qtr:
A 7:41 Martinez 6 yd run (Kick Blocked)
3rd Qtr:
A 8:04 Nunez 1 yd run (Franco pass from Nunez – 2 pt)
4th Qtr:
A 9:02 Ochoa 11 yd pass from Nunez (Kick Failed)
A 7:18 Reed 9 yd run (Nunez Kick)
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