MidValleySports.Com

By Big George Hernandez

Tyler Luatua scores the game winner against Norwalk.
Photo by Bill Tauson

(La Mirada)- La Mirada’s Gerry Myres connects with Tyler Luatua on a 59-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to secure a 29-23 win over Norwalk Friday night at home.

The Matadores came out strong and smacked the Lancers in the mouth on defense. La Mirada kept that “beast mode” on and pounded the ball down field capping it off with a 5-yard touchdown run from Adam Carrasco to make it 7-0 at 4:36 in the first.

Norwalk woke up in the second quarter on offense and defense. The Lancers Rashaad Penny ran the “36 power” five straight times and finished it off with a 20-yard run to paydirt to tie the game at 7-7.

Lancers Aaron Armendarez picked up a Carrasco fumble the next series and Penny busted another touchdown run this time from 29-yards out to make it 14-7 Norwalk at 5:51 in the second.

Hugo Correa plows the road for Adam Carrasco
Photo by Bill Tauson

La Mirada found its mojo again on a fourth and nine Myres hit Dallis Shipp down the middle of the field for a 33-yard touchdown pass to tie it up at 14-14 with only 47-seconds in the half.

Norwalk wasn’t going to run the clock out Malcom McAllister slipped through the Matadores defense and scampered 55-yards to the endzone to give the Lancers a 20-14 lead at halftime after a missed extra point.

Lancers came into the second half with eleven straight runs all by Carrasco, he finished it off with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 21-20.

Neither team got on the board till late in the fourth quarter. A referee’s miss fired whistle almost cost Norwalk a chance but they were able to stop the Lancers and get the ball back.

Norwalk used their ground game to get back in La Mirada territory. A late hit by a Lancers defender kept the drive alive which was capped off by a Jorge Perez 35-yard field goal give the Lancers a 23-21 lead at 2:30 in the fourth.

Matadores weren’t going to lay down, Myres scrambled to his right and hit a wide open Tyler Luatua for a 59-yard touchdown pass to give La Mirada the lead and win 29-23.

Lancers offense was led by Penny 20-carries for 132-yards and two scores, McAllister also go in the action with 11-carries for 109-yards and a touchdown.

La Mirada offense ran through Carrasco and his 27-carries/159-yards and two touchdowns, Luatua had six catches for 133-yards and the game winning score. Quarterback Myres went 9 of 15 for 183-yards and two scores.

Norwalk travels to Artesia while the Matadores  go to Bellflower.

“The kids played hard,” said Norwalk Jesse Ceniceros. “Kids from before would of gave up.

These kids busted their butts. La Mirada has a big physical line, it’s a good team and is well coached.”

“Our d-line made Norwalk earn those yards,” said La Mirada HC Mike Moschetti. “We made good adjustments at halftime and the teams executed them. No one is going to hold Norwalk’s offense down.”