MidValleySports.Com

By Ron Vrooman

(Montebello) – Sophomore placekicker Guillermo Parrel’s 19-yard field goal with 32 seconds left gave the host Montebello Oilers a 17-14 victory over the Alhambra Moors last Thursday night.   

The Moors got the ball back at their own 20-yard line after the ensuing kickoff, but could only drive to the Alhambra 43 before time ran out. The Moors’ loss, combined with San Gabriel’s victory over Bell Gardens, eliminated them from playoff contention and ensured Alhambra of a fifth-place finish in the six-team Almont League.   

The defeat also snapped Alhambra’s four-game winning streak against Montebello.   

Parrel’s kick kept the Oilers’ playoff hopes alive, but just barely. Barring any kind of at-large gift from the CIF Southern Section, Montebello would have to finish third in league to qualify. In order to do that, the Oilers must upset first-place Schurr in their league finale, and Bell Gardens has to lose to last-place Mark Keppel.   

The Moors took a 7-0 lead over the Oilers on an eight-yard touchdown run by Julian Venegas Khavari late in the first quarter. However, the Oilers responded with two second-quarter touchdowns to take a 14-7 advantage into the halftime break.   

A fumble by Alhambra running back Adan Duenas Fregoso led to Montebello’s go-ahead score, which came on a three-yard run by Kricztof Gutierrez.   

The Oilers had a chance to increase their lead early in the third quarter, but a 26-yard field-goal attempt by Parrel was blocked by the Moors’ Anthony Rosales. Alhambra then tied the score at 14 on Duenas Fregoso’s three-yard TD run and Emilio Reynoso’s extra point with 1:31 left in the quarter.   

On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Moors’ Nero Navarro recovered a fumble by Montebello quarterback Josh Castellano at the Alhambra 45. The Moors drove to the Oilers’ 20-yard line, where they faced a 4th-and-9 situation.   Deciding not to attempt a field goal from around 37 yards out, the Moors instead elected to go for a first down. But, a pass by quarterback Bryan Leonard fell incomplete and Montebello took over on downs.   

The Oilers, going exclusively with their ground game, marched all the way to the Alhambra 7, where the drive stalled. Parrel then kicked a 23-yard field goal which would have put Montebello ahead, but the Oilers accepted a roughing-the-kicker penalty against the Moors that gave them a 1st-and-goal at the four-yard line.   

However, the Oilers could only get to the Alhambra 2, and Parrel was called in again on fourth down to try another field goal. Parrel had a difficult angle from the right hashmark, but he got the ball inside the left upright, and Montebello was on its way to a hard-fought victory.   

Running back Freddy Morales was the Oilers’ leading rusher with 17 carries for 94 yards, and Castellano completed 10 of 17 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. For the Moors, Venegas Khavari carried the ball 21 times for 90 yards and a TD, and Leonard connected on 14 of 28 passes for 119 yards.   

The victorious Oilers gained 260 yards from scrimmage, compared to 279 yards for the Moors. Montebello improved its record to 2-2 in the Almont League and 4-5 overall, while Alhambra fell to 1-3 in league and 1-8 overall.