La Quinta Goes to Air to Top Westminster

La Quinta High School used a big-play aerial attack to pull away from host Westminster in the second half Friday night and went on to win the season opener for both teams, 27-13.

Senior quarterback Richard Weaver hooked up with his favorite target, receiver Jason Cherms, four times for 109 yards. The two combined on pass plays of 44 and 19 yards in the second quarter to set up La Quinta’s first score, which came when Cherms ran around right end for six yards and gave the Aztecs a 7-6 lead.

Weaver (12 of 19 for 215 yards) gave La Quinta the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter when he connected with Cherms on a 24-yard pass into the left corner of the end zone. Cherms leaped high to snare the pass and touched down just inside the sideline to give La Quinta a 20-13 lead.

The Aztecs also scored on a second-quarter, 62-yard interception return by Don Hopkins and capped their scoring when running back Kenyon Buchanan (12 carries for 92 yards), filling in for the injured Trent Julian, sprinted 11 yards around the left side and vaulted over the goal line.

Westminster got the first score of the game when John Shipp hit Vince Tauanuu with a 13-yard touchdown pass. Shipp tied the game, 13-13, in the third quarter with a seven-yard scoring pass to Donald Bell on fourth-and-inches.

Westminster running back Vance Senteno led all rushers with 104 yards in 20 carries.