(El Monte, CA) The Burroughs Bears got a pair of touchdowns each from Sho Fujita and Brandon Chapparo to hand a tough loss to the Arroyo Knights 28-23 Friday night at BL Bergstrom Stadium on the campus of Arroyo High School.
The 2026 version of the Bears appears to be a vastly improved squad that was outscored 404-126 in 2025.
Arroyo did get on the board first and on its first drive needing only three plays to drive 61-yards and a score. Oscar Lopez Jr. found Matt Arciga deep down the left side for 54-yards. Paxton Parps added the extra point for the 7-0 lead.
Later in the quarter the Bears went on a 15-play scoring drive eating up yardage and the clock and with 2:48 left in quarter one, tied the game at seven on a Fujita one yard run.
Late in the second, the Knights put together a 14-play scoring drive on their own with Arciga snagging his second touchdown of the night this time from 35-yards away. The extra point was blocked but Arroyo still led 13-7.
In the third quarter it was the defense’s turn for Arroyo as Jonathan Muncie picked off a Chapparo pass and returned it 18-yards to paydirt. Parps’ extra point was good giving the Knights a 13 point lead 20-7.
The Bears pulled to within six when Chaparro called his own number from 9-yards away and with Michael Hernandez’s extra point, six points was the difference.
Arroyo pushed its lead back to nine points early in the final frame when Parps booted through a 37-yard field goal that capped a nine-play drive.
Without a cloud in the sky lightning struck in El Monte when Fujita got loose and outraced the Knight defenders 68-yards to the endzone. With Hernandez’s extra point, the Bears now only trailed by 2.
Fujita finished the night with 213 yards on 23 carries and the two scores.
With 2:43 left to play in the game, Burroughs took its first lead of the game traveling 70-yards and nine plays with Chaparro getting his second score. Once again Hernandez nailed the extra point and now the Bears led 28-23.
It was now Lopez Jr. and the Knights’ turn to put a drive together to win the game.
Arroyo pushed the ball downfield deep into Bear territory, setting up a moment that had all Knight fans on the edge of their seats.
After a pass interference penalty set up the Knights with first and goal from the nine, it was time for some last moment heroics from Lopez Jr. and his cast of stable mates.
Lopez Jr. took the snap and rolled to his right avoiding pressure and at the last moment before taking a hit, he lofted the ball in the direction of Noah Fonseca. Fonseca made the catch and fell forward into the endzone for an apparent touchdown. However, the officials got together and made the call that Lopez Jr. had crossed the line of scrimmage before he released his pass.
The illegal forward pass was called and the game ended with Burroughs winning 28-23.
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@anonymous I’ve seen the film. The QB is at the 6 yard line when he throws the ball… the down marker is at the 9. By rule, that’s the right call. Regardless of what team you root for, you have to just admit it was a great game that could’ve gone either way.
No it wasn’t if it was why didn’t the official throw his flag when it happened if it did instead of talking it over with the other officals
@ Tough One
Was it the correct call in the end though?
This was a hard loss to take, coming down to that decision by the zebras to negate the Knights’ TD. The good news is that Arroyo can learn from this, which will serve them well in the weeks ahead. Best of luck to the Knights going forward.