Esperanza Takes Care of Los Alamitos Again
Los Alamitos had the talent and the motive to knock off Esperanza in its Sunset League opener, but it was Esperanza that got the results.
The temptation is to call the Aztecs’ 24-20 victory in front of 8,000 at Veterans Stadium an upset, since Los Alamitos was ranked second in the county and Esperanza third. However, records and rankings rarely mean anything in this annual rivalry.
For the second year in a row, Esperanza (5-1, 1-0 in league) claimed a four-point victory over Los Alamitos (5-1, 0-1).
Last year, the Aztecs knocked the Griffins out of the nation’s No. 1 ranking with a 21-17 victory, but this year’s may even be sweeter.
“This one was definitely better,” said Esperanza running back Jamaal Footman, who ran for 197 yards in 35 carries and scored two touchdowns, including the game-winner from 10 yards with about 4 minutes left to play.
“Tonight we had several people playing their first varsity league game, and they did a great job,” Footman said. “The offensive line was fantastic; they did their best blocking of the season.”
Said Esperanza Coach Gary Meek: “Any time you can beat a Los Alamitos, you have to feel good because they’re one of the great programs.”
Throughout the game Los Alamitos’ defense, determined to shut off Esperanza’s passing game, dared the Aztecs to run the ball. And the Aztecs, particularly Footman, readily complied from the second quarter on.
“We wanted them to run, but they did it better than we expected,” Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes said.
Both teams exchanged interceptions on their first series. Ryan Dunbar returned his interception 27 yards to set up Los Alamitos at the Esperanza 22. Two plays later, Roy Roberts spun out of three tackles and ran 15 yards for a touchdown.
When Los Alamitos got the ball back, quarterback Sean Stein (252 yards passing) went long distance, hooking up with Ife Ohalete on a 55-yard scoring pass. The extra point kick was wide, but the Griffins led, 13-0.
Esperanza got on track in the second quarter as David Parrish and Footman found their rhythms.
The senior quarterback passed for 80 yards--all that he would throw for in the first half. He even hit Rod Jackson with an 18-yard, left-handed pass (Parrish is a righty) during an 89-yard, 11-play drive that culminated in Jamie Smith’s one-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 13-7.
On Esperanza’s next possession, Footman ran for all 52 yards (including a 31-yard, third-down sprint) on a four-play drive that culminated with his nine-yard scoring run through the middle of the Los Alamitos defense. Justin Ware’s extra point put the visitors ahead, 14-13.
Footman finished the half with 108 yards in 15 carries.
Ware added a 21-yard field goal for the only scoring in the third quarter. Los Alamitos took its last lead in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Stein.