MidValleySports.Com

By Ron Vrooman

(Temple City) – The Alhambra Moors ran their season record to 2-1 with a 21-6 victory over the Temple City Rams on Thursday night, but they did it the hard way.   

The visiting Moors were their own worst enemies, committing four turnovers, turning the ball over on downs at the Temple City 16 on their opening drive, and having two touchdowns nullified by penalties.   

Alhambra held a 14-0 lead at halftime, scoring on a 41-yard pass from Bryan Leonard to Joshua Soto in the first quarter and on a two-yard run by Cyrus Wu late in the second.   

But the third quarter was an exercise in futility for the Moors; they committed two turnovers deep in Temple City territory and had a touchdown pass from Leonard to Joseph Valdovinos called back because of a holding penalty.   

Then, the Moors found themselves in trouble after Leonard threw his second interception of the night just before the end of the quarter. The Rams’ offense, which had gained only 28 yards up to that point, suddenly came to life.    

Temple City drove 98 yards in nine plays, scoring on a 20-yard pass from quarterback Jake Jones to wide receiver Judah Douglas to cut Alhambra’s lead to 14-6 with 7:19 left in the game. That’s where the score remained for a short time after the Rams’ extra-point kick fell short.   

Soto returned the ensuing Temple City kickoff 29 yards to set the Moors up at the Rams’ 45-yard line. Five plays later, Leonard fired a 13-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Jamichael Jackson to clinch the game for Alhambra.   

Leonard, the Moors’ freshman quarterback completed nine of 19 passes for 147 yards and two TD’s. Soto, a senior wide receiver, caught three of Leonard’s throws for 67 yards and a score, and Valdovinos, a senior slot receiver, hauled in four passes for 64 yards.   

Jones, a junior, produced most of Temple City’s offense, hitting on nine of 21 passes for 125 yards and the Rams’ only score. He was intercepted twice. Douglas, a sophomore, ended up with a total of five catches for 72 yards.   

The Moors gained 279 yards from scrimmage, while the Rams managed just 141 total yards. Alhambra held Temple City to only 16 yards on the ground.    

Penalties figured prominently in the game; the Moors were penalized 10 times for 85 yards, and the Rams were flagged 15 times for 64 yards.