PREP FOOTBALL : Esperanza Looks Ugly, Still Wins

Mr. Big and Mr. Brown ran over and through Westminster High School Friday night to lead Esperanza to another ugly nonleague victory, this one a 14-12 triumph at Westminster.

Matt Werner, Esperanza’s 6-foot 5-inch, 243-pound defensive tackle, had 5 sacks for minus 47 yards. He sacked Westminster starting quarterback Bob Elliott four times, the last one causing Elliott to leave the game with a sprained left ankle.

On the other side of the ruler is Lance Brown. Listed in the game program at 5-9, 165, Brown, a junior, rushed for 99 yards and the 14-yard, third-quarter touchdown that eventually decided the game.

Except for Brown, the Esperanza offense was not very exciting. Two quarterbacks, junior Mike Aed and sophomore Keith MacDonald, combined to complete 5 of 12 passes for 69 yards and 2 interceptions.

“Our offense just hasn’t been able to put anyone away,” said Gary Meek, Esperanza coach.

The Aztecs (3-0) beat Marina, 13-0, in their season opener, and then squeezed out a 14-10 victory over El Modena last week. The one bright spot, for a rather dull offense, has been Brown, who has gained 333 yards. He rushed for more than 700 yards last season.

How does he do it? Not to be overlooked is Brown’s talent for turning a corner. He turned one around left end in the third quarter and ran 40 yards to the Westminster 18. He rushed for four yards on his next carry, and then sped around right end for the 14-yard touchdown.

Also not to be overlooked is Brown’s talent for being overlooked. Esperanza has a huge offensive line, averaging 250-pounds per player. When all that beef stands up, a guy 5-9 can get lost.

“I think the size differential has something to do with his success,” Meek said.

Esperanza’s success seems to rest on its defense, which has allowed but 22 points. Friday, the defense held Westminster to 19 yards rushing, though Elliott did manage to throw for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

Elliott completed 11 of 23 passes, which meant he was sacked once for every three completions.

“We’ve been winning ugly so far,” Meek said. “Just getting enough on the scoreboard and then letting our defense handle the rest.”

In all, Werner made six tackles for losses. On the end of the line, Sean Donohue, 6-0, 250, was also penetrating with regularity.

Meek said: “If Matt Werner and Sean Donohue aren’t the best pair of defensive tackles in Orange County, I’ll eat my hat.”

Meek figures to go hungry, hat-wise.