Westminster Rushes Past La Quinta

Westminster Coach Stan Clark wanted to take a look at a few tailbacks in the Lions’ season-opener Thursday night.

From the sideline, Clark was able to get a much better view than the defense that was trying to tackle Christian Rodriguez and Sparky Kale.

Rodriguez, a senior, rushed for a game-high 98 yards in 13 carries and Kale rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns to lead Westminster to a 20-6 victory over La Quinta at Bolsa Grande High.

The victory allowed the Lions (1-0) to maintain possession of the perpetual Mayor’s Trophy. La Quinta is 0-1.

Although Westminster had a 157-49 yardage advantage in the first half, the score was tied at 6-6; it wasn’t until Kale broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run with 49 seconds left that the Lions were able to celebrate.

La Quinta lost last year’s game, 42-0, and finished 1-9, but celebrated a moral victory Thursday.

“We got some confidence,” Coach Fred Valko said. “Our offensive line took a beating last year when they were all sophomores. Our defense did a fine job.

“It’s too bad [Westminster] scored late--we wanted to be closer. But we got blown out too many times last year. We needed to be in the middle of a game.”

Though outscored by an average of 33-5 last year, La Quinta was in the middle of this game.

After falling behind on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Manuel Tapia to David Kurien on Westminster’s first possession, La Quinta tied the score with 6 minutes 11 seconds left in the first half.

Alex Pulido recovered Tapia’s fumble at the 13, and after Daniel Almazan ran 12 yards on third down, James Nguyen scored from inches away.

Both kickers missed their extra-point attempts.

“The thing I was most excited about was we made some adjustments at halftime, blocking assignments, and the kids executed,” Clark said.

La Quinta had to punt on its first possession of the second half after getting the ball at the Lions’ 46; Westminster ripped off a 10-play, 80-yard drive, ending on Kale’s two-yard run. Kale caught a pass from Shaun Spradling for a two-point conversion and 14-6 lead.

La Quinta was on the Westminster 42 in the final minutes before Almazan’s fumble set up Kale (eight carries for 83 yards) for the final score.

Westminster outgained La Quinta, 338-83.