Hoover football gets 42-18 win against Sotomayor
GLENDALE — Given that the Hoover High football team had been held scoreless in more than three games, dating back to last season, the offensive onslaught that was Thursday night might just be what it needed.
Granted, the showcase came against a Sotomayor team that the Tornadoes defeated last season for their lone victory and is yet to be established as a solidified football program.
Still, the 42-18 win over the Wolves at Glendale High School’s Moyse Field resulted in a sense that the Tornadoes can build on the positives and continue their winning ways, as they snapped a nine-game losing streak.
“We have momentum and there’s a change in culture,” said Tornadoes fullback Calvin Lopez, who rushed for 115 yards on six carries, including a 58-yard touchdown. “We’re not the same team we were two years ago. Change is happening.”
Lopez ended the 13-quarter scoreless streak when he recovered a Sotomayor fumble and ran it back for a touchdown. The Wolves mishandled a sweep play and the Tornadoes (1-1) capitalized to take a 7-0 lead with 6:28 remaining in the first half.
Lopez, along with Maurice Herrera, Ryan Williams, and James Tumbucon, caused fits for the Sotomayor defense and fueled a Tornadoes offense that compiled 410 yards of total offense. Herrera led the way with 122 yards on 10 carries, including a touchdown. Williams and Tumbucon also scored rushing touchdowns, with Tumbucon putting the finishing touches on the game with a 78-yard dash with 2:53 left to play and the outcome all but decided. Tumbucon rushed for 92 yards and Williams finished with 79.
Hoover Coach Matt Andersen knew he could get his two fullbacks, Lopez and Tumbucon, going based on the opposing defense.
“It was nice to have eyes in the booth,” said Andersen, who mentioned headset problems in the team’s season-opening loss against Hollywood. “Being able to communicate was nice. We knew what they were running on defense and how they were lining up we liked the play with our fullbacks.”
Andersen also said he was pleased with the intensity on Thursday night, something he said was lacking in the 41-0 loss last week, but still needs to see the team decrease the number of mistakes after penalties and three turnovers stood out negatively, despite the win.
Against Sotomayor, Hoover fumbled it on its own possession after three consecutive first downs. Luckily, the Wolves fumbled it right back, allowing Lopez to give his team the early lead.
Kaylen Jimenez, Sotomayor’s quarterback, answered with one of his three touchdowns of the game on the ensuing possession. However, the team elected to go for the two-point possession and failed. The Wolves trailed throughout the contest.
Lopez scored on both sides of the ball, as his 58-yard run capped a two-play, 65-yard drive that gave the Tornadoes a 14-6 advantage in the first quarter.
Williams, the team’s quarterback, did not complete a pass but was included in the four-headed rushing attack, highlighted by his 55-yard touchdown with 8:19 remaining in the second quarter.
The Wolves trailed, 21-6, at halftime, but made the necessary adjustments to score 12 quick points in the third quarter to cut Hoover’s lead down to 21-18.
Jimenez scored both touchdowns and was the lone bright spot for the Wolves, as he surpassed the century mark on the ground.
The Tornadoes answered the second touchdown with a six-play drive resulting in a Herrera 16-yard touchdown.
Sotomayor’s final two possessions saw them fumble it for the third time in the game and turn it over on downs, as Hoover scored on each of its three fourth-quarter possessions, with touchdowns from Herrera, Williams and Tumbucon to clinch the victory.
“It felt great, total team effort,” Lopez said. “We did this as a team.”