Penalties Fail to Halt Mustangs’ Stampede

It was a less-than-pretty victory for Camp Kilpatrick High, but it was a victory nonetheless.

In a game marred by 29 penalties, Camp Kilpatrick rolled over St. John’s, 37-0, in a Freedom League game at Newbury Park High on Thursday night.

The Mustangs (3-3-1, 1-1) snapped a two-game losing streak but it was anything but a work of art.

“It wasn’t just ugly,” said Camp Kilpatrick Coach Sean Porter, “It was grotesque.”

Camp Kilpatrick led, 14-0, at halftime, despite the fact that Porter left nine players back at the camp for disciplinary reasons.

The Mustang defense, playing with seven new starters, dominated St. John’s (2-5, 1-1). Camp Kilpatrick sacked quarterback Eddie Talton eight times, and held St. John’s to just 50 total yards.

Mustang quarterback Arthur Moreno, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound senior, rushed for two touchdowns on runs of one and eight yards and threw for another score.

Camp Kilpatrick scored easily on its first two possessions, but then stalled in its next two series.

St. John’s drove to the Mustangs’ 38 on nine plays after the opening kickoff, but a tough Camp Kilpatrick defense made sure that the Saints would get no closer the rest of the game.

On the Mustangs’ third offensive play, Hubert Rush raced 42 yards on a sweep right to give the Mustangs a 6-0 lead.

Moreno’s one-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion run on the Mustangs’ next possession made it 14-0.

After intermission, the play deteriorated as 14 penalties were called in the third quarter. Eight of those penalties were whistled during the Mustangs’ first series after the second-half kickoff.

“It was crazy. I think the referees are going to need ice on their shoulders,” Porter said. “If they got paid per flag, they were underpaid tonight, that’s for sure.”

The Mustang defense restored order after the sluggish start to the second half. The Mustangs forced the Saints back to their four-yard line before Talton was tackled in the end zone for a safety and a 16-0 Camp Kilpatrick lead late in the third quarter.

Sergio Luevano’s 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the ensuing free kick kept the Mustangs rolling along, 23-0.

In the fourth quarter, Moreno connected with Carlos Martinez on a 26-yard scoring pass and ran in another from eight yards.