By Tim Peterson
(Pico Rivera) – Monrovia racked up 623 total yards and rolled to a 58-26 victory over El Rancho Thursday night at Don Memorial Stadium.
The Wildcats scored on all of their seven possessions in the first half to take a 44-20 lead into halftime. Brian Salazar hit Jaylen Moore on an 82-yard touchdown strike on their first possession and they took off from there.
Marcel Jones scored four times for Monrovia including twice in the first half on touchdown runs of 9 and 20 yards. Salazar found Noah Ellison on consecutive scoring passes in the second quarter on quick strikes of 46 and 50 yards.
Carlos Hernandez, after having a touchdown reception called back on a penalty, scored on the very next play hauling in a Salazar pass for a 52-yard score to make it 37-20.
After El Rancho was stopped on fourth down at the Monrovia 32, the Cats took advantage marching right down the field with Salazar connecting with Jack Zinn on an 11-yard TD pass with 15 seconds left in the first half.
El Rancho tried to respond in the first half. Angel Diaz turned a screen pass from Ryan Vasquez into a 60-yard touchdown early in the first quarter. Antonio Carbajal scored on a nine-yard run with 42 seconds left in the first quarter to cut Monrovia’s lead to 18-13.
After Ellison hauled in his two touchdown receptions at the outset of the second quarter to put the Cats up 30-13, Daniel Rodriguez went in from 8 yards out for the Dons to cut the lead to 10. But every time ER gained any momentum Monrovia would shut it down with a quick strike offensively.
Monrovia’s next two scores by Zinn and Hernandez to close out the first half spelled the end for El Rancho.
El Rancho had one more murmur of protest when Antonio Carbajal rumbled 55 yards for a score in the third quarter.
Jones got touchdown number three when he recovered a botched snap by El Rancho on a punt attempt later in the third and then added a little gravy with an 85-yard run with 55 seconds left in the third for the final score.
El Rancho had a nice night offensively as well. Vasquez completed 15 of 26 for 212 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions. Diaz had four receptions for 125 yards and a score. Carbajal rushed for 122 yards and a one touchdown rushing and one receiving. The Dons had 428 total yards.
Salazar was 20 of 31 for 450 yards and 5 touchdowns. Hernandez continued to torture defensive coordinators as he racked up 208 yards and a touchdown on 9 receptions. Jones ran for 135 yards and 3 touchdowns on 11 carries.
The Wildcats improved to 3-0 on the year while the Dons suffered their first loss and fell to 2-1.
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What is so good about Norwalk? Not like they have played anyone of note.
One thing that’s a shame and might be a reflection of the tranfer era. Monrovia so good but only a handful of fans. They vocally supported their guys but a team like that shoud have loads of friends and family. Don stadium is a easy drive from Monrovia down the 605. It reminded me of the transfer laden tiny La Verne Luteran BB team 10 years ago. One of the top teams in the country. You could go to a game and sit on LV’s side and be with 20 other folks.
Norwalk looks like they have their best team since the Penny era. With Mayfair and Norwalk in 2 of the next 3 weeks El Rancho could very well be 3-3 going into league. Cal v El Rancho will probably be the game for the only other playoff spot in the Del Rio. Loser goes home for the holidays.
2 of the best play callers in the game in Williams and Medrano. Williams is able to find mismatches and exploit them. Medrano able find what works and build other stuff off of it. Williams has a bit more to play with hence the result.
ER had tons of chances just couldn’t close out drives, a fumble at the Monrovia 5, an overthrown swing pass deep into Monrovia territory on 4th down, a snap over the punters head for a TD, things like that can’t happen, it felt like every time Monrovia hit us with something we punched back, love to see our boys keep fighting against a very tough opponent, I’m optimistic it was a learning experience for a very young ER. The emergence of Antonio Carbajal at RB is going to be huge the rest of the season, Daniel Rodriguez got going at RB also. This team is starting to shape into one of those typical ER Medrano teams, I like what I’m seeing, especially knowing we will return about 95% of our starting lineup next season and have multiple sophomores playing some valuable minutes.
Correct the Ranch and Cal will battle for 2nd.
The real winner on this scorching evening was Duane Barker and his camera…great shots my friend.
Agree! Biggest mismatch was Monrovia’s speed. ER has a lot of underclassmen out there. Future looks good for the young
El Rancho Dons!
The dons battled early but Monrovia was just too skilled too fast for ERHS, surprised ER had a somewhat impressive running game, all I heard was they couldn’t run the ball. Very competitive for about 1.5 quarters then Monrovia just cruised. Monrovia’s line was stout, someone told me they had all 5 returning starting OL. We’ve said it before, schedule up and lose and you could end up in a very winnable division, schedule down and win in blowouts and you might end up in a very tough division. ER likely loses to Mayfair in similar fashion, and will battle Cal for 2nd place in the DRL, the winner and loser of that game likely end up in a very good division. You never know who can be the northview of 2021.