Hoover High football can’t find way past Arcadia

ARCADIA — Looking for a positive sign, the Hoover High football team played arguably its best game of the season on defense.

Quick to the ball, the Tornadoes forced four turnovers. It’s something that left Hoover second-year Coach Matt Andersen encouraged. Now, he’d like to also get the offensive unit clicking.

“Without a doubt, one of our best defensive efforts of the season,” Andersen said after visiting Hoover suffered a 24-7 defeat against Arcadia on Friday night in a Pacific League-opening contest for both teams. “They did everything we wanted and they played the way we thought they could.

“Now, we just have to get it going on offense. The problem is that just about everybody plays on both sides of the ball, so they get a little more tired. Overall, I’m happy with our defense.”

Hoover, which had a bye last week, dipped to 1-3. Arcadia improved to 2-2.

Hoover looked crisp throughout most of the first three quarters before Arcadia tallied 10 fourth-quarter points to seal the victory.

In fact, Hoover took a 7-0 lead with the help of its defense. Hoover defensive back Sal Gomez stepped in front of an Arcadia wide receiver and intercepted a pass before racing 36 yards untouched to the end zone with 10:27 left in the second quarter.

“I read the wide receiver and was able to get in front of him,” Gomez said. “Then, I saw the open space and ran it back.

“I thought we were able to play a pretty good game on defense. We just wanted to come out and show we could do that.”

The Apaches, who are coached by former Hoover Coach Andrew Policky, knotted the score at 7 on the ensuing drive. Running back Josh Benson scored on a three-yard run with 8:10 left in the first half.

Hoover linebacker Pierre Dimidjian recovered a fumble at the Hoover 39-yard line with 3:30 left in the second quarter, but the Tornadoes couldn’t convert on the turnover.

Arcadia took a 14-7 lead when Steven Luong scored down the left side on a 14-yard run with 32 seconds left in the first half.

Dimidjian recovered another Arcadia fumble at the Arcadia 44-yard line with 3:48 to go in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the Tornadoes, they couldn’t capitalize and were forced to punt.

Arcadia’s Quentin Cortes scored on a 36-yard run with 9:57 remaining in the fourth quarter to make it 21-7. A 27-yard field goal by Oscar Chen capped the scoring with 5:10 to play.

Hoover finished with 93 yards of total offense. Hoover running back Davit Nersisyan finished with 37 yards rushing in 16 carries.

“We’ll have to fix some things on offense,” said Andersen, whose team has scored just seven points in its last two games.

Hoover will next compete in a league home contest at 7 p.m. Friday against Pasadena at Glendale High’s Moyse Field.