Alemany’s Upset Hopes Ended Early by St. Paul

Alemany High’s Brian Van Holten, bruised and beaten and with grass still stuck to his face, didn’t know why his team was dominated by St. Paul, just that it was.

“I can’t explain it,” Van Holten said after Alemany’s 17-0 loss in a Del Rey League opener Saturday night at Valley College.

“We were just intimidated for some reason. It was all mental. We just couldn’t get our offense going.”

The Indians (3-3), winners of one game in 1992, had gotten off to a surprisingly good start this season because of a defense that would bend, but not break.

In its first five games, Alemany upset Crescenta Valley and Canyon and scared Hart before losing, 14-7.

But St. Paul (5-1) began rolling over the Indians from the start, driving 65 yards on the game’s first possession for a touchdown, an eight-yard run by Rick Avina.

Avina, helped by huge holes provided by his offensive line and sloppy Alemany tackling, gained 194 yards in 19 carries. Morris Luevano added 104 yards in 17 carries.

St. Paul outgained Alemany, 323-85. The Swordsmen also forced three turnovers.

One of them, a first-quarter fumble, set up a 40-yard field goal by St. Paul’s Andy Wilcox, giving the Swordsmen a 10-0 lead with 4 minutes 30 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Alemany managed to hold off St. Paul for the rest of the half and the Indians came out of the locker room seemingly a new team.

Alemany took the third-quarter kickoff and held the ball for 8:14, driving to the St. Paul 23.

But Jason Long’s 40-yard field-goal attempt hit the center of the crossbar and bounced back.

“That took the breath right out of us,” said Van Holten, who led Alemany with 44 yards in nine carries.

To further deflate the Indians, Avina broke a 71-yard run on a draw play on St. Paul’s ensuing possession.

Although the Swordsmen did not score on that drive, they added an insurance touchdown in the fourth quarter, when Avina scored from 28 yards with 4:46 remaining.

Alemany quarterback Rudy Pantoja completed three of nine for 10 yards with two interceptions.