Live blog: Arleta wins City Invitational title, 31-8

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Fittingly, the final points of tonight’s City Invitational football final came on a safety... a tribute to the dominant defense Arleta displayed for 48 minutes in its 31-8 win over Franklin.

Facing a fourth-and-27 at the five-yard line, Franklin’s punter let the snap sail past him on purpose, thus conceding two points to the Mustangs, who then proceeded to field the ensuing kickoff and run the final few minutes off the clock.

The top-seeded Mustangs had the advantage in every significant statistical category. They outgained Franklin, 400-141, had 19 first downs to Franklin’s 11 and enjoyed a decisive edge in time of possession--29:49 to 18:11. In fact, Arleta controlled the ball for over 17 minutes in the second half.

Junior running back Omar Sanchez finished with 201 yards and one touchdown in 21 carries and Bryan Choto completed 10 of 15 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown and rushed 11 times for 44 yards and one score for Arleta, which finished 14-0 in just its second year as a varsity program.

Adrian Diaz was 6-of-14 for 68 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions and Enrique Macias had 38 yards in nine carries and caught three passes for 29 yards and the only touchdown for third-seeded Franklin (11-3), which suffered its first loss to a City opponent.

Friday’s victory was especially gratifying for Arleta Coach Jeff Engilman, who won his fifth City title. He led Manual Arts to two 3-A crowns in the 1980s and piloted Sylmar to a pair of 4-A championships in the 1990s.

-- Steve Galluzzo