Western Scores Early and Often, Routs La Quinta, 62-20

Big plays came early and often as Western pounded La Quinta, 62-20, Thursday night at Handel Stadium.

Western (2-1) scored on its first seven possessions, building a 48-0 lead.

The first, a 65-yard bomb from quarterback Brandon Brennan to split end Josh Christenson, came in the first two minutes of play. A minute later, Western lineman Damian Guerrero recovered an Aztec fumble on the La Quinta 38. Marcus Robinson’s 33-yard run to the five set up a Brennan touchdown pass to Josh Burdett.

Brennan completed touchdown passes of 40 and 38 yards to Jason Covarrubias and Christenson to build a 27-0 first-quarter lead.

“This was La Quinta’s first real test against a passing team this season,” Western coach Jim Howell said. “They gave us a lot of openings all night, and when you have a pair of gifted athletes like Brennan and Christenson, you have to go to them.”

Brennan, who sat out the second half, completed six of nine passes for 160 yards and four touchdowns.

La Quinta (1-2) finally broke through with four seconds left in the first half, thanks to a pass interference call and a seven-yard run by Jason Gondringer. The half ended with Western leading, 48-6.

Both teams’ reserves traded a pair of touchdowns in the second half, with the big play by Western coming on an 89-yard interception return by Pedro Calderon.