By Ron Vrooman
(Alhambra) – Quarterback Matthew Medina completed 16 of 28 passes for 295 yards and five touchdowns to lead South El Monte to a 35-13 victory over Alhambra in the teams’ 2023 season opener on Friday night at Moor Field.
Wide receiver Tony Aguilar was Medina’s go-to guy, as he caught seven passes for 146 yards and four TD’s. Aguilar also closed out the scoring for the visiting Eagles with a two-point conversion run midway through the fourth quarter.
Running back Michael Valencia carried the ball 21 times for 106 yards to add some balance to South El Monte’s offense. The Eagles gained 435 yards from scrimmage while the Moors could muster only 193 total yards.
Alhambra scored on two of its first four possessions and held a 13-7 lead halfway through the second quarter. However, the Moors twice turned the ball over on downs inside the Eagles’ 20-yard line in the first half, and they failed to threaten again despite starting two possessions at around midfield in the third quarter.
In the meantime, South El Monte scored 28 unanswered points to put the game away.
Most of Alhambra’s offense in its nonleague loss came from sophomore quarterback Bryan Leonard, who connected on nine of 24 passes for 133 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown strike to Giovanni Rodriguez. Senior tailback Julian Venegas Khavari gained 41 yards in 14 carries and scored the Moors’ only other TD on a one-yard run.
South El Monte was penalized 13 times for 120 yards, while Alhambra was flagged eight times for 70 yards in a rather sloppy game.
The Eagles will face Bishop Montgomery at home next Friday night, and the Moors will travel to Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights.
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