Hoover football stays close before succumbing to Arcadia
ARCADIA — Over the last couple of games, there’s been a better concentrated effort from the Hoover High football team.
In recent seasons, the Tornadoes often found themselves on the short end of lopsided scores in the Pacific League.
That wasn’t the case Friday, when Hoover faced host Arcadia in a league tilt.
Hoover held its own for the first half before fatigue became a factor in a 24-7 defeat.
“Defensively, it was one of our better efforts,” Hoover fourth-year Coach Matt Andersen said. “We just couldn’t put together all the phases to pick up a win. Once we got past the big three in the league in [Crescenta Valley], Burbank and Burroughs, we thought we could definitely stay in the rest of our games and we’ve done that against Muir and now Arcadia.
“Our defense got tired and that came from turnovers and too many three-and-out possessions. We’ve got two games left and we’ll just try to get better in all three areas.”
Hoover (3-5, 0-5 in league) and Arcadia (7-1, 4-1) each had four turnovers. Hoover has lost five straight games after opening the season 3-0 for the first time since 1958. Hoover competed without standout running back Quinton Smith, who suited up but missed the game because of a hamstring injury.
Two of Hoover’s turnovers led to 10 points for Arcadia, ranked 10th in Division XI. The first came in the first quarter when Arcadia’s Rolandiss Whitener intercepted an Andrew Rangel pass near midfield and returned it to the Hoover 11-yard line with 1:02 left. Austin Guerra then scored on a four-yard run to give the Apaches a 7-0 lead with 30.2 seconds remaining.
In the second quarter, Jordan Richardson of Hoover intercepted a pass by Maxmillian Davila at the Hoover 42-yard line with 5:43 to go. However, Arcadia’s Craig Carrillo recovered a fumble less than a minute later at the Hoover 31.
Hoover’s Angelo Clarizio recovered a fumble at midfield with 9.8 seconds left in the first half to keep the Tornadoes within striking distance.
Clarizio recovered another fumble at the Hoover 19-yard line with 8:25 remaining in the third quarter. The Tornadoes blocked a 26-yard field-goal attempt by Randy Ludwig with 1:57 to play in the third quarter. The Apaches stopped the Tornadoes on the ensuing possession, leading to Jahlique Stephens scoring on a 39-yard run to make it 14-0 with 32 seconds to play in the quarter.
Stephens then scored on a 55-yard run to give the Apaches a 21-0 advantage with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Stephens finished with 126 yards rushing in 11 carries.
Hoover responded with a 13-yard touchdown run by running back Maurice Herrera to cut the deficit to 21-7 with 6:59 left.
Ludwig closed out the scoring with a 42-yard field goal with 4:17 remaining.
“I thought we got some good efforts from Jordan and Angelo,” Andersen said. “I think our defense has continued to get better.”
Davila completed 16 of 33 passes for 147 yards. Guerra rushed for 93 yards in 18 carries for Arcadia.
Rangel completed six of 21 passes for 94 yards and one interception.
Hoover will next compete in a league home game against Pasadena at 7 p.m. Friday at Moyse Field. Arcadia will meet visiting Glendale at 7 Friday.
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Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
