MidValleySports.Com

Schurr's Carlos Arredondo says the Spartans just need to two more to wrap up a perfect Almont season

By Juan Carlos Salas

(Montebello) – Two touchdowns from both Chris Chairmonte and Carlos Arredondo were more than Schurr needed to put away host Montebello with a 34-12 victory in ‘The Battle for Beverly Blvd’.

Spartan quarterback Aaron Cantu threw for four touchdowns and 263 yards. Running back Nicholas Castillo added a fifth touchdown while tallying 126 yards on the ground.

“We played probably one of out better games of the year,” said Schurr Head Coach Ben Negrete. “I thought Montebello was well prepared and well coached and they played really hard. So we had to play well to win.”

Montebello had the momentum early, taking a 6-0 lead off a Schurr turnover. Matt Contreras dropped a backwards pass and was recovered by Oiler Josh Curiel, who took it for a 70-yard touchdown.

That was all Schurr would let up in the half as in its ensuing drive, Cantu found an open Chairmonte, completing the 55-yard pass for the 7-6 lead.

Running back Joseph Marron appeared to regain the lead for Montebello, but his touchdown was called back due to a holding penalty.

Schurr started the second quarter coughing up the ball again. A bad snap caused the ball to slip form Cantu’s hand and recovered by the Oilers. However, Montebello turned over the ball moments later and Cantu found the end zone twice.

A pass to Arredondo was called back for a penalty. But moments later Cantu found Chairmonte for his second touchdown of the night, a 10-yard pass and a 14-6 lead.

“Cantu is an excellent young quarterback and gets better every week,” said Negrete “He has the advantage of having two of the best receivers in this area. That combination is pretty tough.

In the third quarter, Cantu connected with Arredondo who spilt the defense for a 36-yard touchdown. Castillo extended the Schurr lead, 28-6, getting into the end zone in Spartan’s next drive with a 3-yard run.

“Nick is a really hard worker. He wants to be recognized as probably one of the best running backs in the league,” said Negrete of his star player. “I think that’s his goal and he played like that tonight.”

Montebello stopped the bleeding after Dylan Gomez found Chris De Leon for a 5-yard touchdown, cutting the lead 28-12 after a failed 2-point conversion.

But the Spartans held momentum and Cantu added his fourth touchdown of the night, connecting with Arredondo after he beat his defender and finding himself at the end of a 28-yard pass for the final 34-12 win.

With the victory, Schurr improves to 3-0 in league with a six game undefeated streak, while Montebello falls 0-3.

“We say that these last three games is the championship run,” said Negrete about the remainder of the season. “If we want to be champions we have to perform like champions for the last two weeks. And we look forward to it.”