El Toro Holds Off El Dorado

A 27-yard, third-quarter field goal by El Toro High’s Mike Marquez proved to be the game winner as the Chargers defeated El Dorado, 10-7, in a nonleague game Friday night at Valencia High.

The Golden Hawks (3-2) had a touchdown called back with a little more than three minutes remaining in the game. Nick Zehner’s 15-yard run was nullified by a holding penalty. The El Toro defense then tightened, aided by another El Dorado penalty, ending any hopes of a late comeback.

“We played well defensively,” El Toro Coach Mike Milner said. “Offensively, we had bad field position all night and couldn’t get anything going.”

The Chargers’ Vinnie Mascari tied the score, 7-7, late in the first quarter with an 88-yard yard kickoff return. After that score, the teams combined for only three points in more than three quarters.

The Golden Hawks scored the game’s first points nearly 10 minutes into the first quarter. Zehner capped a nine-play drive with a two-yard touchdown run. He was stopped short at the line initially, but his second effort propelled him into the end zone.

Evan Whitaker completed 10 of 13 passes for 90 yards for El Toro (3-2). Ashkan Nazeri, splitting time with Nick Walsh in place of injured tailback Ryan Switzer, rushed six times for 48 yards.

Zehner led El Dorado with 128 rushing yards in 29 carries. Brian Zurhellen completed three of 12 passes for 32 yards.