Norwalk reclaims Mayor's Trophy with win over John Glenn
Norwalk scored three touchdowns in the first quarter on their way to a 51-7 win over John Glenn last Friday. (Photos by Leo Jarzomb)
NORWALK – The Norwalk High School football team reclaimed the Mayor’s Trophy with a convincing 51-7 victory over host John Glenn last Friday in a nonleague game.
After a three-year absence, Norwalk football coach Ruben Guerrero and his players were happily clutching the annual trophy after the win over the Eagles.
“Since my junior year (in high school) in 1991-’92, I’ve been a part of this,” Guerrero said of the Mayor’s Trophy. “It feels awesome to be able to get that trophy taken home.
“I’m really happy for the kids and happy for the school. It’s huge for them.”
The trophy has been at John Glenn (2-2) since the 2018 season when they won it back from Norwalk for the first of two seasons. Both teams didn’t play each other last spring for the 2020 season.
“It’s been on the forefront on these guys’ minds since we started in the summer,” Guerrero added. “These kids were young, but saw what happened and they knew about it. It just feels good to have the game and come out on top and take the trophy.”
After a game-one loss to San Marino, the Lancers (4-1) have been on a roll with four consecutive wins and have scored 203 points, while giving up 33 points.
Photo by Leo Jarzomb
Leading the way for Norwalk was the dual threat, rushing combo of senior Jonathan Goodloe (2 touchdowns, 7 carries for 136 yards) and junior David Herrera (3 TDs, 6 carries, 103 yds.). Goodloe and Herrera each converted a two-point conversion run in the game.
Junior quarterback Caden Barnhill threw only one pass but it was for 81 yards and a score by Herrera to start the game for the Lancers.
Junior kicker Nelson Vasquez was a perfect 5 for 5 in extra points.
Herrera’s all-purpose total was 184 yards and the team combined for 370 total yards (289 rushing, 81 passing).
“This is surreal,” Herrera said. “I remember my freshman year when they beat our varsity team. I just felt we needed to avenge these guys and I’ve been waiting for the moment.
“I’m not going to take any of this for granted. It was really a night to remember.”
Guerrero commented on the grit of his running back.
“David plays hard, man,” Guerrero said. “He runs with no abandon and he really helps us out. He’s a tough runner, a tough kid and what we call a ‘gamer’.”
John Glenn was led by senior running back Jonah Young with 16 carries for 128 yards and a 60-yard TD run late in the third quarter to prevent a shutout.
Photo by Leo Jarzomb
“As a team we didn’t do so well,” Glenn coach David Cruz said. “Our team really felt good and confident going into the game.”
Young is the workhorse for the Eagles and Cruz knows he must work carefully with his carries during the early part of the season.
“We’re trying to include more and more plays to be competitive,” Cruz said. “Jonah was exhausted in the game. Getting him in shape is important for league. Until he gets in-game form, we need to take baby steps.
“He’s also one of our leaders on defense (free safety).”
Norwalk started off with a bang in the game, scoring on the first play from scrimmage for the 7-0 lead.
“Coach (Guerrero) came out with a passing play and shocked them,” Herrera said. “This team is something different and it’s not the Norwalk it has been (lately). We’re doing something here and you just have to watch it.”
Herrera caught a 21-yard pass from Barnhill, then outran the defense the final 60 yards for the 81-yard scoring play.
Photo by Leo Jarzomb
After the ensuing kickoff, the Eagles fumbled the snap on their first play on their own 12-yard line and Norwalk recovered and on the first play, Goodloe went in untouched for the quick 14-0 lead.
The Lancers ended the first quarter with their third touchdown on a four-yard run by Herrera. He also added the two-point conversion run for the 22-0 score.
Herrera (62-yard TD) and Goodloe (81-yd TD) each scored on long runs to lead, 37-0, followed by a 14-yard touchdown run by Herrera to end the first half scoring.
“I have to give props to our offensive line,” Herrera said. “These guys up front have been an asset for us this entire season.”
Each team scored in the third quarter with junior fullback Anthony Martinez scoring on an 11-yard run and Young adding the only score for Glenn late in the quarter.
Cruz talked about his defense and one of his young players, junior Mikel Udengwu, who has evolved.
“For being so young, I’m glad he’s making a name for himself,” Cruz said. “He’s another coach on the field, especially the first couple of weeks. As a defensive end, he contains the edge.
“We’re trying to get the other side of the ball up to speed.”
In addition, one of a handful of players from Southeast Academy, Daniel Espinoza (TE/DE), which feeds athletes into the Glenn program, is one of the new kids that are helping us out.”
Norwalk travels to undefeated El Rancho (5-0), while Glenn travels to winless Hawthorne (0-3).
Foothill 34, La Mirada 7
The La Mirada Matadores slipped to 3-2 in the preseason with the loss to Foothill.
The lone touchdown scored by La Mirada was by freshman running back Matthew Gallegos on a 2-yard run with 30 seconds to play in the game.
The Matadores had 228 yards of total offense in the game, as junior quarterback Nehuel Garcia (15 of 21, Int.) threw for 125 yards and Gallegos led the team with 54 yards on 12 carries.
The total rushing amounted to 103 yards. Senior running back Eddie Lafferre added 21 yards on five carries and caught one pass for 14 yards.
“We just got beat from the get go,” La Mirada coach Mike Moschetti said. “Before we knew it, we were down, 14-0.
“They outplayed us, outcoached, outclassed us and outphysicaled (sic) us. It all falls on me. (I’ve) got to get these kids ready to play and as a head coach, I take full responsibility.”
The leading receiver for the Matadores was junior Xavier Hicks with nine receptions for 63 yards, while senior Aidan Nasser added 25 yards on two catches.
A big upcoming game tonight (Friday Sept. 24) looms as La Mirada travels to the Santa Ana Stadium to take on the Maxpreps top-ranked Mater Dei. Monarchs. Mater Dei is only 2-0, but has beaten Duncanville of Texas (45-3) a top program, and Liberty of Henderson, Nevada (49-7).
St. Paul 27, Diamond Ranch 7
The Swordsmen improved to 4-0 with the win over Diamond Ranch last week.
St. Paul was led by senior quarterback Isaiah Dunn, who had a hand in all four touchdowns.
Dunn (17 for 22) passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 108 yards (6 carries) and two touchdowns.
His two touchdown passes went to senior Jordan Williams (4 receptions, 84 yards) and junior Aidan Bravo (6 receptions, 67 yds.). Nathan Saldana added five catches for 38 yards.
Senior Jamar Williams added 63 yards on three carries for the Swordsmen.
St. Paul had 394 total yards on offense (221 passing, 173 rushing).
On defense, junior Jeremiah Lafferre, Jr. and defensive tackle Justin Contreras led with six solo tackles apiece, while one sack each was recorded by Sonny Troncoza, Adriel Pisano, Austin Alanis and Israel Gallardo.
St. Paul travels to Righetti (Santa Maria) for a nonleague game tonight.
Santa Fe 47, Montebello 7
The Chiefs (1-4) recorded their first win of the season with a big offensive output against the visiting Oilers.
Santa Fe was shutout in three of its first four games this season.
The Chiefs had a balanced offense as they scored three touchdowns on the ground and three through the air for 287 total yards.
Junior quarterback Evan Melendrez (6 for 10) threw a touchdown pass to Matt Picado (4 catches, 60 yds.) and two to senior Chris Ledezma (2 catches, 47 yds.). Melendrez also ran for a touchdown and had an interception.
On the ground, senior Gabriel Rodriguez ran for 89 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown to lead the team, while junior running back Christopher Ramirez (15 carries, 51 yds.) ran for a score.
On defense, Rodriguez led with three sacks and Picado (2 Int.) and Pedro Debora (Int.) recorded six solo tackles each.
Santa Fe travels to Esperanza (2-2) for a nonleague game tonight.