MidValleySports.Com

By Rich Whittington

(El Monte) – The Baldwin Park Braves had little trouble handing the host El Monte Lions their first loss of the 2023 Football season Thursday evening, as the Braves posted a 52-33 victory at El Monte’s own Lions’ Stadium

El Monte scored the game’s first points when QB Brandon Do scored on a 12-yard Quarterback Keeper. The PAT was added by K Bryan Gomes, making the score 7-0 with 9:53 remaining in the opening quarter.

Baldwin Park answered when QB Jake Garcia connected with WR Elvis Diaz for a 61-yard touchdown. The PAT was unsuccessful, making the score 7-6, Lions as the quarter ended.

The second quarter belonged to Baldwin Park. The Braves’ scoring started off with a successful 27-yard Field Goal. The Brave’s second score of the quarter, a 76-yard Jake Garcia run, with a successful PAT, made the score 17-7 with 7:29 remaining in the opening half.

BP continued their scoring barrage, adding another Garcia rushing score of 19 yards. A successful 2-point conversion made the score 25-7 with 5:35 with 5:35 remaining on the first half clock. El Monte exhibited their “big play” capabilities by adding a scoring strike of their own; a 75-yard connection between Brandon Do and WR Noah Munoz. Another successful Munos PAT made the score 25-14, with 5:14 remaining.

Baldwin Park added their final score of the period when Garcia again found Diaz for a 15-yard score. Another successful PAT made the score 31-14 at the end of the first half.

Each team scored in the third quarter. Baldwin Park added another TD when Gomez and Diaz connected for the third time in the game…a 17-yard TD. El Monte answered, as Do connected with WR Alonso Hernandez for a 4-yard score. Both PAT attempts were successful, making the score 38-21 after three quarters of game action.

Each team added another pair of scores in the fourth quarter. BP struck first, as Garcia completed yet another scoring pass, connecting with WR Chase Blackwell. Garcia would score again in the quarter, connecting with Diaz for their fourth score of the evening on an 8-yard touchdown. Another pair of successful PAT’s made the score 52-21 with 8:26 remaining in the game.

El Monte’s scores were added by a connection between Do and WR Cristian Jiron for a 20-yard TD. The Lion’s final score was added by backup QB Alex Aleman, who connected with WR Jose Coronel for the game’s final points.

Two unsuccessful PAT attempts made the score 52-33 and the game ended. Next week’s action finds Baldwin Park at home on Thursday, 8/31/23 when they will battle the South Pasadena Tigers. El Monte’s next challenge, a home game against the Rio Hondo Prep Kares, will take place on Friday, 9/1/23. Kickoff for both contests is 7:00 p.m.