By Tim Peterson
(Whittier) – Brandon Elias scored on a two-yard run on the first possession in overtime to lift Don Lugo a 35-28 win over El Rancho Saturday night at Pioneer High School to kick off the 2024 season.
The Dons had a chance to tie or go ahead but they fumbled the ball on a handoff exchange on their series and Shane Biggs recovered it for Don Lugo to secure the victory and the Conquistadores celebration ensued.
Elias’ game winning touchdown run was set up by a 20-yard pass for Kalib Pacheco to Blake Laporte down to the El Rancho two-yard line. Elias scored on the next play.
It appeared that Don Lugo, leading 28-21, had iced the game with 1:34 left in the fourth quarter when the defense stopped El Rancho on fourth and goal at the seven-yard line when Ryan Dominguez’ pass attempt to Andrew Guerrero in the end zone was ruled incomplete. El Rancho head coach Adrian Medrano argued that Guerrero came down with the ball but to no avail.
Don Lugo took over on its own seven yard-line but Pacheco, on a designed pass play, threw the ball down the field and was picked off by Ray Madrid III and El Rancho was back in business at the Don Lugo 31. This set up a four-yard touchdown run by Anthony Orihuela with 58 seconds left to tie the game at 28.
It then went into overtime where Don Lugo prevailed.
El Rancho took a 7-0 lead on its first possession marching 66 yards on 10 plays with Jonathan Medina Jr. capping it with a three-yard run.
Don Lugo tied it late in the first quarter as Pacheco finished a 61-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run.
In the second quarter Sam Plunkett hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Pacheco to put Don Lugo up 14-7 with 7:23 left in the quarter.
The Dons failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the first half including two missed field goal attempts. But they did manage to tie it at 14 with 1:38 left in the second quarter when Dominguez connected with Phoenix Navarro on a four-yard TD strike.
The Conquistadores immediately responded when on third down Laport got behind the ER secondary and ran under a 73-yard toss from Pacheco and raced to glory to give Don Lugo a 21-14 halftime lead.
Dominguez did it himself running eight yards for an El Rancho touchdown with 41 seconds left in the third quarter to knot it at 21.
Plunkett caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Pacheco for a 28-21 advantage with 7:49 remaining in the fourth quarter for a seven-point Don Lugo lead. It stayed that way El Rancho forced the OT with under a minute left.
For Don Lugo Pacheco completed 20-31 for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown. Plunkett had 8 receptions for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns.
For El Rancho Dominguez completed 19 of 28 for 220 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score. Orihuela rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown and also caught four passes for 34 yards.
Both teams were plagued by numerous penalties throughout the contest. Late hits, personal fouls and holding penalties were the order of the day. The field was littered with flags from start to finish.
El Rancho will travel to Bell Gardens next Friday night to take on the Lancers while Don Lugo will host Los Osos on Friday night.
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Of all the criticisms that could be made of coaching staff in that game , play calling would be last on my list . I thought offensive scheme was excellent ; team discipline in deportment and defensive backfield was the issue .
I thought team was very well prepared for game and could have won .,..
Gary Johnson so you , “the self appointed genius’ , can take over
Sit this one out Gary!
Horrible play calling by the Ranch. He needs to step down
9 game losing streak!!!
Agree with comment about going for 2 at the end of regulation ; they had all the momentum at that point .
First game I’ve been to in a while. More Saturday games please!
Was floored to see ER line up and kick the extra point to go to OT and not go for 2. Not like Medrano to play it conservative.
Refs thought the game was about them. It hurt both teams but ER mostly. Not sure how an obvious TD pass was ruled incomplete.
And like Hagerty said after the Amat game, there were some typical week 0 mistakes. Both teams had chances to blow it open but hurt themselves. Don Lugo staff kept ER in it by throwing the ball with a lead very late in the 4th qtr.
Agree with DO. That first ER drive was a master class in offensive football.
Not gonna find too many QB’s better than Pacheco from Lugo. Kid has all the tools and guts to go with it.
I had a chance see El Rancho up close . The real story of the game was the penalties incurred on both sides ! I’d say 20 penalties and six personal fouls on each team. The officials were booed , but the great majority of calls appeared warranted.
El Rancho looked good for most part , and probably better team despite score .
The opening drive was a masterpiece ! Kudos to coaching staff for putting that together and flawless execution down the field ! The Canadian football play with one WR starting 15 yards in backfield innovative , and they attacked DL perimeter throughout the night .
ER responded to DL level of play , and then went down to their level with senseless penalties that got DL offense going . This chippiness continued throughout the night and compromised ER efficiency .
Blown coverage at end of first half was a killer giving up easy touchdown in prevent type situation.
They extended DL drive 3 separate times with penalties when having them stopped on DL final scoring drive of regulation .
I thought first field goal attempt was good from my not so good angle …
DL QB is a dude . Very good , very tough . Took some shots and popped back up. ER put pressure on him with unusual stand-4 D line alignment, he was elusive on the pocket with accurate strong arm. Receiver Plunkett also excellent in their array of receivers .
Outlook is promising for ER if they can clean up penalties and other lapses , get consistent quarterback play , etc . They should be able to get back to familiar #2 spot in Del Rio