By Nathan Diaz
[Montebello] – South El Monte fell behind 22-0 midway through the second quarter but came away with a 23-22 victory Friday night at Montebello.
Both teams started off slow with punts on their opening possessions.
The Oilers struck first when quarterback Sean Romero hit Louis Jimenez-Ruiz on a 36-yard pass and run to start it off at 7-0 after the extra point.
Just a few plays later Montebello’s Anthony Marroquin ripped the ball out of Matthew Medina’s hand and was scooped up and taken to paydirt by Daniel Rodriguez making it 14-0 late in the first quarter.
Penalties would start adding up for the Eagles when four straight offside flags put the Oilers in striking range. Then Julian Silva sliced through the defense putting the game at 22-0 when Noah Gomez smashed in the two-point conversion.
The Eagles got on the board late in the second quarter when Michael Valencia stretched over the goal line making it 22-7 at halftime.
South El Monte got the ball first and drove the ball down field when quarterback Matthew Medina hit Tony Aguilar on a wide-open slant cutting the deficit to 22-13 after a bad snap of the extra point.
The teams exchanged punts for the next series.
A couple Montebello penalties got the Eagles in field goal position as Valencia booted a 30-yard field goal to make it 22-16.
The Oilers piled up 45 yards on penalties on the next possession and were forced to punt.
The Eagles had a chance to tie it on fourth and twenty, but a dropped pass gave the Oilers the ball back with 2:20 left in the game.
Montebello started to run the ball in an attempt to run out the clock but Romero fumbled the snap and Cesar Lopez jumped on top to get the ball back for South El Monte with 1:08 left.
The Eagles used short passes set up an open Nathan Mendoza who went 20 yards but he was tackled on the three-yard line.
The very next play Medina found Julian Lopez in the corner of the end zone to tie it up at 22-22. The extra point put the Eagles up by one with 23-seconds left.
Romero threw a pick to on the last play of the game.
South improved to 3-0 and will go home and face Garey next week while Oilers stay home to host El Rancho.
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SEM Eagles definitely have room for improvements, they can only get better. Long as they stay healthy. 3-0 so far, not bad. Keep flying Eagles.
This was a horrible game. Both teams had a horrible showing, Montebello should have rolled over SEM. Their OC laid off after going up 22-0.Lack of execution, Bad coverage and atrocious tackling let SEM come back. SEM couldn’t get anything going. Penalties killed a lot of drives, lack of execution on both sides. It’s going to be a long year for both these teams and leagues, not very good.
Good luck and stay healthy!
Get Back Coach is back!!! Does your new daddy actually let you coach or are you still the get back coach? Or chain gang?
Finally came outta your basement huh
After watching SEM twice they are the class of the league this year. They are throwing the ball more this year they have since Gallardo has been there. Couple that with Arroyo and Rosemead being down this year I think it’s a two team race between SEM and EM. Wildcard is my vikes who have a big test coming this week.
@knights the game on Thursday Vs Schurr was awful. It’s not a good year for the knights
Yeah yeah every year it’s the same talk Eagle fans are worse than raiders fans. It’s you guys who have a cupcake schedule plus Frank can’t win the big game he’s proven that time and time again. But with all our turnover and this transition if not this year then never. No pressure lol
DONT doubt the south something we live by and actually take to heart
SEM coming back from behind showed they have heart, watch out Mission Valley League! Eagles looking to go 5-0 in pre-season. Their biggest test in League will be Arroyo but it looks like Arroyo under new HC Argo is struggling, they look vulnerable this year. Rosemead is down as well, Gabrielino has another 1st year HC that is struggling, and El Monte looks to be on the down side. Mtn. View is 3-0 with a cupcake schedule. If Mtn. View can get a win over TC this week they might be for real. SEM is looking like this years contenders. I know it’s early but Don’t Doubt the South