Hoover football falls short of Muir upset

PASADENA — For the first time in more than a decade, the Hoover High football team did not have issues scoring touchdowns against Pacific League rival Muir.

The Tornadoes, who had been shut out 10 times in their past 11 losses to the Mustangs, scored four touchdowns Friday in both teams’ quest to garner their first league victory of the season.

Even though the Mustangs surrendered the scores, they still had just enough help on offense to escape with a win.

Muir overcame a six-point, fourth-quarter deficit to record a 28-26 home victory that improved its record to 3-4, 1-3 in league and dropped Hoover to 3-4, 0-4.

“We needed that win,” Hoover Coach Matt Andersen said. “We had the opportunities.”

Muir scored the winning touchdown after a Hoover fumble gave the Mustangs the ball on the Tornadoes’ 23-yard line. Muir handed the ball off to senior running back Jordan Baker on four consecutive runs, all to the left side, to set up the final score with seven minutes remaining. Baker’s last run, a five-yard score, tied the game at 26.

Muir, like it had all night, went for two and gave the ball right back to Baker, whose conversion provided the final score.

“We have to take care of the football,” Andersen said.

Hoover nearly had a historic night, as it was a quarter away from defeating Muir for the first time in at least 30 years.

Tornadoes junior Maurice Herrera gave Hoover its first touchdown against Muir in 11 years in the first 17 seconds of the game. Herrera returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a score.

After his fumble was scooped up by Ahmir Davis and returned for a 30-yard touchdown, Herrera redeemed himself with a 43-yard rushing touchdown that gave Hoover a 13-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Chris White’s 28-yard touchdown reception from Andrew Rangel added to Hoover’s lead just a minute into the second quarter. But the Mustangs responded with a pair of scores from Davis, who hauled in touchdown receptions of 37 and 58 yards to give Muir a 20-19 lead in the third quarter.

Herrera’a third and final touchdown gave Hoover what it thought would be the game-winner. His 15-yard rushing touchdown capped a nine-play, 66-yard drive that took three minutes and gave Hoover a 26-20 lead at the six-minute mark of the third quarter.

Herrera finished with 99 yards rushing in 10 carries.

Hoover gained 205 of its 330 total yards on the ground, even without top running back Quinton Smith, a senior who missed the game with a right hamstring injury.

“We missed Q,” Andersen said. “He’s a great player.”

James Tumbucon added 77 yards rushing and Rangel threw for 115 yards.

Muir also played without University of Florida-bound cornerback and receiver Elijah Blades, who Muir Coach Antyone Sims simply said was “out.”

Blades still watched from the sidelines as his teammates rallied for the win.