Alvarez Throws for 6 Touchdowns to Lead East L.A. Past Antelope Valley

Santiago Alvarez threw six touchdown passes to lead East L.A. College to a 42-32 Foothill Conference victory over previously unbeaten Antelope Valley on Saturday night at East L.A. Stadium.

Alvarez, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound sophomore, was 30 of 42 for 492 yards and one interception.

“I knew I could throw the ball against them, but not as much as I did (Saturday),” said Alvarez, who set a state high school record with eight touchdown passes for Franklin High in 1989. “It was like, here we go again. I knew I had to come out and do something or (the Antelope Valley defense) would come after me.”

Among the favorites of his seven targets were Frank Martinez (six receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns), Steven Corpus (eight for 96 yards and one touchdown) and Donte Johnson (three for 89 and two touchdowns).

How much of a passing affair was it?

The Huskies totaled 492 yards passing but finished with 480 total yards because the East L.A. running game was held to minus-12 yards.

Antelope Valley (5-1, 3-1 in conference play), which entered the game ranked fifth in the state by the California community college coaches’ poll, was led by quarterback Marty Washington, who completed 13 of 28 for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Greg Graham added 104 yards rushing in nine carries and he scored two touchdowns for the Marauders, who amassed 469 yards in total offense.

East L.A. (2-3, 1-2) opened a 21-13 lead at the half as Alvarez kept the Antelope Valley defense guessing to the tune of 205 yards and three touchdowns.

Then the real fun began.

The Marauders, who failed on three point-after touchdown attempts, closed to within 21-19 when Cash Achziger scored on a four-yard run with 13 minutes 42 seconds left in the third quarter. The score was set up when Alvarez fumbled after being hit by Antelope Valley’s Daron Rodgers and Rick Nickols recovered at the four.

That was pretty much the extent of the defense in this game.

Alvarez threw a seven-yard touchdown to Corpus, only to have Antelope Valley’s Lamart Cooper haul in a 33-yard touchdown pass from Washington that drew the Marauders within 28-26 with 2:34 left in the third quarter.

Next came a two-play, 77-yard drive by East L.A. that featured a 33-yard pass to Armando Canche and a 44-yard touchdown pass to Martinez.

Washington added to the wildness early in the fourth quarter when he connected with Nate Williams on a 45-yard touchdown on third and 10 to bring Antelope Valley to within 35-32.

To absolutely nobody’s surprise, however, Alvarez capped a five-play, 69-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to David Isiah to give the Huskies a 42-32 lead with 13 minutes left.