GAME OF THE WEEK : Ortega Leads Lincoln Over Belmont, 20-10

Marcelo Ortega of Lincoln High made his claim as the City Section’s most versatile player with a fourth-quarter touchdown catch and interception in the Tigers’ 20-10 win Friday over Belmont.

Ortega, a 6-foot senior, played wide receiver, cornerback, kick returner, punter and place kicker. “There were a couple of plays when I was tired,” Ortega said. “But, I tried to go all out on every play. We had to win this game.”

Ortega caught nine passes for 146 yards, including a game-clinching 18-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. He also had an interception. “He’s got to be one of the top players in the city,” said Lincoln Coach Randy Rodriguez.

With the home field win, Lincoln moved into a first-place tie with Belmont and Marshall in the Northeastern League. All three teams have 4-1 league records, and Lincoln is 8-1 overall.

The Tigers took an early 6-0 lead by marching down the field on their first possession behind sweeps by Ruben Castellanos and Peter Cervantes. Gerardo Roman capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Oscar Mendoza.

Lincoln was ready to blow the game open on its next drive until Belmont’s Alex Palomares intercepted a Roman pass and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown and a 7-6 Sentinel lead.

Lincoln responded by taking the ball deep into Belmont territory again, but this time Israel Orozco intercepted Roman’s pass.

After three interceptions, Roman decided to look for Ortega, who responded with four key catches on Lincoln’s last drive of the half. Lincoln scored after driving 52 yards in 56 seconds to take a 12-7 halftime lead with Roman passing four yards to Mendoza for the score.

Roman finished with 18 completions out of 28 attempts for 224 yards and three touchdowns. And no interceptions in the second half.

After Belmont’s Juan Sandoval kicked a 29-yard field goal in the third quarter to cut Lincoln’s lead to 12-10, Roman directed a nine-play, 80-yard drive highlighted by an 18-yard scoring pass to Ortega.

L--Mendoza 13 pass from Roman (kick failed)

B--Talomares 75 interception return (Sandoval kick)

L--Mendoza 4 pass from Roman (pass failed)

B--FG Sandoval 29

L--Ortega 18 pass from Roman (pass failed)

L--Safety, Saulque tackled in end zone by Barrazo

Records: Belmont 7-2; Lincoln 8-1.

Next week: Belmont at Wilson; Lincoln at Franklin