La Quinta Wins, Stays Undefeated

Even though they had won both games this season, La Quinta High School Coach Roger Takahashi had been concerned about his team’s slow starts in the two contests.

Worry no more.

The Aztecs, behind the stellar passing of Donald Hopkins, improved their record to 3-0 with a 24-12 nonleague victory over Western (1-2) on Friday night in front of about 1,500 at Bolsa Grande High School.

Hopkins completed 12 of 21 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns.

The senior quarterback came out throwing and combined with wide receiver Steve Quach on a 77-yard pass play down the right sideline on his third pass attempt for La Quinta’s first score with 3 minutes 29 seconds left in the first period.

La Quinta increased the lead to 14-0 with 9:09 remaining in the second period when senior tailback George Sanchez capped a 43-yard drive with a two-yard plunge on second and goal from two yards out.

Western’s one-dimensional offense, which centers around quarterback/kicker Gilbert Brito, finally scored with 1:41 left before intermission on a five-yard pass from Brito to Alfredo Villegas. Brito provided the key play in the drive with a 50-yard run along the left sideline that moved the ball to the Aztec 17-yard line.

Villegas also scored the other Western touchdown on a 16-yard pass from Brito with 6:20 to play. The scoring catches were the only two receptions Villegas had on the night.

Before that, however, the Aztecs had added a 24-yard field goal by Mike Berg in the third period and a 19-yard touchdown pass from Hopkins to running back Walter Dawkins early in the final period.

Dawkins finished with six receptions for 134 yards and with 35 yards rushing.

Brito rushed for 140 yards in 16 carries and completed six of 19 passes for 85 yards and one interception.

“I think our offense is coming around. We are beginning to jell,” Takahashi said. “I’m very pleased with the way the offensive line played. It couldn’t be at a better time. We have some momentum going into league.”