High School Football Roundup: La Mirada falls to Mayfair, 15-10, in league game
La Mirada quarterback Nehuel Garcia (6) looks for his receiver as they play Mayfair in their Suburban League game at Bellflower High School on Friday. Mayfair defeated La Mirada 15-10. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
LAKEWOOD – With only three weeks left in the high school football regular season, area teams are all playing league games and gearing up for the playoffs.
The La Mirada Matadores are the game of the week, as they just fell short to host Mayfair, 15-10, Friday (Oct. 8).
St. Paul, which had a bye last week, is atop the heap of those teams with a perfect, 6-0 record and will take on St. Francis (5-1) for the first of three Angelus League games.
Norwalk (6-2, 2-0) is unbeaten in the Suburban League with a 54-0 win over Firebaugh last week. They will play La Mirada tonight (Oct. 15).
Santa Fe and John Glenn both suffered shutout losses last week, against La Serna (55-0) and Garden Grove (49-0), respectively.
Matadores fall short at goal line
With seconds left in the game, La Mirada was knocking on the door of host Mayfair and just fell short on a defensive stop by the Monsoons defense with a fourth and goal inside the five-yard line.
“We were down to the five-yard line and wanted to score,” La Mirada coach Mike Moschetti said. “It just didn’t work out.
Mayfair outside linebacker, Jake Snow (12 tackles, 6 solo), made two big plays to thwart La Mirada from scoring.
The junior stopped freshman running back Matt Gallegos on third-and-goal at the five and then sacked La Mirada junior quarterback Neheul Garcia to end the game.
“We’re really struggling offensively,” Moschetti said.
On the final drive for the Matadores, senior wide receiver Aidan Nasser (2 receptions, 12 yards in the game) made a catch from Garcia on a fourth and seven.
“Aidan had a great catch to keep the drive going,” Moschetti added.
A bright spot for the Matadores has been their defense.
“We’re getting better defensively every week,” Moschetti said. “As long as we are playing well defensively, we have a chance. Our secondary played well and put pressure on their quarterback. The defense also kept their running game in check.
“Our D-line really played well and kept us in the game.”
After Mayfair opened with the first possession of the game, La Mirada sophomore outside linebacker Frank Torres intercepted a pass from junior quarterback Evan Tomich (12 for 17, 124 yards, TD) at the Monsoons 38-yard line.
Three minutes later, La Mirada senior kicker Aidan Petruescu gave the Matadores the early, 3-0 lead with a 32-yard field goal with seven minutes left in the first quarter.
La Mirada’s Edward Lafferre (21) breaks through a tackle as they play Mayfair in their Suburban League game at Bellflower High School on Friday. Mayfair defeated La Mirada 15-10. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Later in the quarter, Mayfair took its first lead, 6-3, as senior running back Nick Adimora (12 carries, 121 yards) ran for a 51-yard score.
The Monsoons added a 20-yard field goal by junior kicker Samuel Chukwurah at the midpoint of the second quarter for the 9-3 lead. The first of two interceptions by Garcia led to the score.
Early in the third quarter after each team lost the ball on fumbles, an interception led to Mayfair’s first touchdown of the game – a five-yard pass from Evan Tomich to his younger brother, sophomore Owen Tomich, for the 15-3 lead.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Matadores scored with six minutes left on a 5-yard touchdown run by Garcia, to trail by five points, 15-10.
Garcia was 9 for 15 for 58 yards in the game with two interceptions.
A long drive by La Mirada preceded the score by Garcia, with a long, methodical drive with five running backs carrying the ball for the Matadores.
Gallegos carried the ball 14 times for 77 yards (5.5 avg.) for La Mirada, while senior running back Eddie Lafferre had 53 yards on 13 carries. Junior Tanner Roberts added 38 yards on five carries.
La Mirada plays Norwalk tonight (Friday, Oct. 15) in a crucial Suburban league game.
“We have a tough game against Norwalk,” Moschetti concluded.
St. Paul in showdown against St. Francis
St. Paul, which is perfect on the season with a 6-0 overall record, began its three Angelus League games Thursday (results not available at press time) at home against St. Francis (5-1).
The Swordsmen, who are averaging 37 points per game, did not play last week are led by senior quarterback Isaiah Dunn (89 for 131) with 1,265 yards and 13 touchdowns. Dunn also has 45 carries for 402 yards and six touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver Aidan Bravo leads with 27 receptions for 439 yards and four TDs, while senior running back Jordan Williams has 302 yards on 14 carries and four touchdowns.
Paul Pierce to attend St. Paul Basketball clinic
Swordsmen notes: The St. Paul Basketball program and coach Patrick Roy is proud to announce a two-day clinic for kids, seven and up. Featuring the event will be former NBA Star and recently enshrined Hall of Famer Paul Pierce.
“Just to have the opportunity to coach at St. Paul and have one of my former players, Paul Pierce, come and give back to basketball with this clinic is great,” said Patrick Roy, who was hired this past summer at St. Paul.
The clinic is Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 16- 17) at the St. Paul gym. It runs from 8 am until 2 pm Saturday and 8 am to 3 pm on Sunday. The cost for the two-day clinic is $100 per athlete.
To sign up, contact coach Roy at (310) 345-9834 or register at stpaulhs.org.
“We were excited what coach Roy could bring to the table,” St. Paul Athletic Director Rich Avina said. “This will get the community excited about Paul Pierce here at St. Paul basketball. What coach Roy brings to St. Paul basketball will help get us to a higher level of basketball at the school.”
Norwalk rolls over Firebaugh
Norwalk, which is 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the Suburban League, will have an away game at Excelsior High School against La Mirada.
Norwalk only has two league games remaining.
The Lancers were led by junior running back David Herrera against Firebaugh with 175 yards on eight carries and three touchdowns. He also had one catch for 22 yards. Senior running back Jonathan Goodloe (5 carries, 79 yards) scored two TDs.
Junior fullback Anthony Martinez and Sam Aguirre ran for 46 and 32 yards, respectively.
Santa Fe hosts undefeated El Rancho
Santa Fe, which lost to La Serna last week, continues Del Rio League action tonight (Oct. 15), hosting undefeated El Rancho (8-0).
In the La Serna game, the Chiefs were led by senior running back Chris Melendrez with 99 yards on 20 carries, while junior running back Christopher Ramirez had 29 yards on seven carries.
Junior linebacker Pedro Debora led the team with five tackles.
John Glenn continues 605 League action
Glenn, after being shutout for the second consecutive game, opens league tonight (Oct. 15) at Artesia (0-6). Game time is 7 pm