Another Shutout for St. Paul

Taking a 21-point lead early in the second quarter, St. Paul spent most of Thursday night’s game against Alta Loma trying to preserve a shutout streak.

Mission accomplished.

The Swordsmen (5-0), ranked No. 2 in Division III, extended their shutout streak to four games with a 28-0 victory at St. Paul.

St. Paul has outscored its opponents, 209-6, this season.

Against Alta Loma (4-1), which is ranked No. 1 in Division V, the Swordsmen’s streak was threatened twice, but the visitors missed a field-goal attempt and had a pass intercepted in the end zone.

“We did some good things on defense,” St. Paul Coach Marijon Ancich said. “[Alta Loma wasn’t] ready for some of the things we do. We kept them off balance.”

The Swordsmen held the Braves to only 111 yards total offense while gaining 383 of their own, including 216 on the ground.

Senior running back Manuel Murillo gained 144 yards in 30 carries.

“They are a good team,” Murillo said of Alta Loma. “But the offensive line made some good blocks and we executed well.”

Ancich also gave credit to Murillo.

“He ran his heart out tonight,” he said. “There wasn’t always a hole, but he found yards.”

The Swordsmen’s streak and undefeated record get their toughest challenge to date next week when St. Paul travels to Bellflower to take on Division I St. John Bosco.