Three Joyner Touchdowns Lead Esperanza to Victory

Tom Joyner scored three touchdowns to lead fifth-ranked Esperanza to a 20-6 victory over Lynwood Leuzinger Friday night at Valencia High.

Credit the Esperanza defense, however, for the victory. The Aztec defense dominated the last 36 minutes, after stopping the Olympians deep in Esperanza territory late in the first quarter, and Esperanza scored two second-quarter touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead.

Leuzinger had a first-and-goal at the Esperanza six-yard line, but the Aztecs stopped two rushing attempts behind the line of scrimmage. On third down, Joyner sacked Jason Simmons back at the 27, and Marco Vallado’s 43-yard field goal attempt came up short.

“They were blocking down on us, but after we put a man on their quarterback, we were able to stop the option,” Esperanza coach Gary Meek said. “After that, they couldn’t do anything.”

About the only mistake the defense made was giving up a 48-yard touchdown pass from Simmons to Jason Sharp late in the game.

Esperanza’s rushing attack was also able to pile up some big numbers; Dahrin Footman rushed for 116 yards in 24 carries and Joyner added 64 yards in 10 carries.

Joyner had touchdown runs of two and nine yards in the second quarter, as well as a two-yard run late in the fourth quarter.