Katella Can’t Stop Esperanza’s Express

A 30-minute delay because of an electrical storm that shorted out the scoreboard in the first half failed to deter Esperanza and the Aztecs rolled to a 20-3 Empire League victory over Katella Friday night at Western High School.

Esperanza (7-0, 2-0 in league) smothered Katella’s offense, limiting the Knights to 121 yards total offense. Katella quarterback Jaret Wright, who was sacked four times for 37 yards in losses, completed only two of 22 passes for 48 yards against the harassing Aztec defense.

Katella (3-4, 0-2) threatened to score first when running back David Rojo broke loose for an 83-yard run to the Aztec 11, but Esperanza’s Tom Joyner recovered a Wright fumble on the next play to end the threat.

Esperanza scored on the first play of the second quarter on Yancy Knox’s 29-yard field goal. The Aztecs extended the lead to 10-0 on quarterback Garriet Campbell’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Ken Hall. Knox’s 42-yard field goal shortly before intermission made the score 13-0 at halftime.

A bad snap over Katella punter Mike Rubio’s head was recovered on the Knight 23 by Anton Hector to set up the final Aztec score, a 14-yard run by Bill Ross with 31 seconds left in the third quarter. Katella averted a shutout on Rubio’s 47-yard field goal 4:58 left in the game.