DIVISION II : Esperanza Dominates, Heads to Another Title Game

When it was over, when he didn’t have to watch anymore, Pasadena Muir Coach Jim Brownfield approached Esperanza lineman Travis Kirschke at midfield and stuck out his right hand.

“You guys gave us an old fashioned butt-whipping,” Brownfield said as cheerfully as he could.

What else could he say?

Esperanza was overwhelming once again Friday, routing Muir, 28-7, in a Division II semifinal game in front of 3,000 at Valencia High.

The final score was only one indication of the Aztecs’ dominance Friday. There were so many others, starting with the rushing statistics. Esperanza outrushed Muir, 276-1. Yep, that’s no misprint.

Salidin McCullough, who rushed for 2,139 yards and 35 touchdowns this season, wound up with minus-one yard in eight carries.

“Really?” Esperanza Coach Gary Meek would ask later. “Minus-one yard?”

McCullough came into the game as the state’s sixth-leading rusher, but was rendered null and void by a swarming Aztec defense led by Kirschke, defensive end Jim Stewart and a seemingly endless cast of hard-hitters.

So, half of the puzzle is complete. Esperanza meets the winner of tonight’s Los Alamitos-La Crescenta Crescenta Valley game in the championship game next Saturday night.

Take one guess which team the Aztecs would rather play.

“Now, we get another chance at Los Al, hopefully, if they win,” Kirschke said.

This is the third consecutive title game appearance for Esperanza, which has a remarkable 39-2 record over the past three seasons. In 1990, Esperanza defeated Santa Fe Springs St. Paul, 25-7, to win the Division III title. Last year, Esperanza lost to Los Alamitos, 8-0, in the championship game, ending a 27-game winning streak. Earlier this season, Los Alamitos routed Esperanza, 34-14.

Friday, Esperanza (12-1) controlled the game by controlling the line of scrimmage.

Muir (11-2) finished with two first downs and 13 yards total offense. The Mustangs’ only score came on a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by McCullough after Esperanza had taken a 21-0 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

“We kept the ball away from (McCullough),” Meek said. “You give the guy a seam . . . Hey, you saw what happened on the kickoff.”

Kicking the ball to McCullough was about the only mistake Esperanza made.

And it was about the only thing Muir, which hasn’t been to a title game since tying Santa Barbara, 7-7, in the 1989 Division II game, had to feel good about.

Aztec running backs Dahrin Footman and Bill Ross, benefiting from huge holes created by the offensive line, each scored two touchdowns and topped the 100-yard barrier.

Footman gained 139 yards and scored on runs of two and 22 yards in 25 carries, and Ross added 108 yards and scoring runs of one and 45 yards in 20 carries.

“The defense did a heck of a job and the offense controlled the ball,” Meek said.

It was as simple as that.

*

Esperanza 28, Pasadena Muir 7

E--Footman 2 run (Knox kick)

E--Footman 22 run (Knox kick)

E--Ross 1 run (Knox kick)

M--McCullough 98 kickoff return (Norman kick)

E--Ross 45 run (Knox kick)

LEADING RUSHERS--M: Simpson 1-4; E: Footman 25-139. LEADING PASSERS--M: Bonwell 1-5-2, 12; E: Aed 5-8-0, 49. LEADING RECEIVERS--M: Perry 1-5; E: Wise 5-49.

Attendance--3,000