El Monte’s Aaron Rivera kicked five extra points, a field goal and ran for 112 yards in the win over South El Monte.
By Tim Peterson
(El Monte) – El Monte jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the second quarter and held off South El Monte in the second half to beat the Eagles 38-21 Friday night in the Griffin Bowl.
The Lions gave up a touchdown late in the second quarter as Damian Cordova scored on a four-yard run for South El monte to cut the Lions lead to 28-7 at halftime.
In the third quarter things got interesting. El Monte fumbled the snap on a punt attempt and the Eagles took over at the El Monte eight-yard line. On the next play Cordova scored on an eight-yard run and although the extra point was missed it was suddenly 28-13 with 8:56 left in the third.
El Monte answered on the next possession as Isaiah Standley scored on a one-yard run to cap a 62-yard drive to make it 35-13.
The Lions and Eagles battled all night in the annual Griffin Bowl.
The Eagles weren’t done just yet. With just 17 seconds left in the third quarter Cordova picked up his third score of the night on a six-yard run. He then ran in the two-point conversion and it was 35-21 heading in to the fourth quarter.
In the fourth Aaron Rivera kicked a 23-yard field goal with just over nine minutes left and the Lions stopped South on the last two possessions to wrap it up.
It was all El Monte early. After fumbling on their first possession the Lions got going on their second series. They marched 94 yards on six plays with Standley capping it from three yards out.
On the next series the Lions cashed in on a short field starting at the South El Monte 44-yard line. Just two plays later Alex Aleman connected with Noah Munoz on a 16-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0.
In the second quarter El Mone landed two big punches. First Anthony Ramirez broke off a 54-yard run for a touchdown. Then after a South fumble the Lions were in business again at the Eagle 25. Aleman immediately hit Alonso Hernandez Jr. for a 25-yard score and boom! Just like that, with 9:45 still left in the second quarter, it was 28-0.
South El Monte did manage to score before the half but the Eagles were never able to recover from those two big blows.
For South El Monte Cordova had 72 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. He also had three receptions for 28 yards. Quarterback Michael Maldonado had 12 carries for 38 yards and threw for 143 yards.
For the Lions Rivera ran for 112 yards on 15 carries including a big 53-yard jaunt in the fourth quarter. Aleman threw for 137 and two scores. Standley had just five carries for 19 yards but scored two touchdowns. Noah Munoz hauled in three catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.
El Monte improved to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the Mission Valley League. The Lions can run the MVL table with a win over Gabrielino next week. South El Monte finished the regular season at 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the MVL.
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