Esperanza Gets Wake-Up Call at Halftime, Then Dumps Katella

The Southern Section’s longest winning streak was in serious trouble for 2 1/2 quarters as Esperanza High School struggled against an inspired Katella team in the Empire League opener Thursday night at Valencia High.

We can’t print what Esperanza Coach Gary Meek told the Aztecs, second-ranked in Orange County, in the locker room at halftime. He would only shake his head in disgust when pressed for details of his speech.

Whatever was discussed, it seemed to work, as Esperanza scored on its first possession of the second half and went on to beat Katella, 26-0, for its 20th consecutive victory. Esperanza, the defending Division III champion, is 6-0 this season. Katella fell to 2-4.

Running back Marcus Tayui and quarterback Josh Buscaglio led Esperanza’s second-half surge. Katella, which had been almost flawless in the first half, began to make mistakes, which only helped make the final margin wider.

Tayui rushed for 105 yards and touchdown runs of 25 and 21 yards in 17 carries and Buscaglio completed nine of 15 passes for a season-high 132 yards. Esperanza also turned three turnovers by Katella into 16 points.

It didn’t make Meek feel much better, however.

“Give Katella credit, they played a lot harder than we did,” he said. “It was a combination of Katella played hard and we didn’t.”

Perhaps, it was suggested, Esperanza was looking forward to next week’s showdown with unbeaten Los Alamitos.

“How can you overlook the league opener?” Meek said.

“I think their defensive front seven dominated us in the first half. They were beating us off the ball. A couple of times our (running back) was tackled in the backfield. That just doesn’t happen to us.”

The first-half statistics were grim enough. Katella limited Esperanza to minus-one yard passing and 79 yards rushing.

Only a sound effort from Esperanza’s defense kept the Aztecs from further first-half trouble. Katella could only scratch out 27 yards passing and 34 yards rushing.

Katella’s best--and only--chance to score came on a 51-yard field goal try by Mike Rubio just before halftime. The kick was well short and the teams remained tied, 0-0.

“In the second half, we had to hit a pass,” Meek said. “Buscaglio, I don’t think he was here for the first half. We had guys wide open and he couldn’t complete the pass.”