Bolsa Grande Tops La Quinta, Ends Skid at 21

Bolsa Grande stopped a 21-game losing streak dating to 1997 with an 18-0 victory over La Quinta Thursday at Bolsa Grande High.

Both teams entered the game 0-5. The Matadors had not won since defeating La Quinta two seasons ago and the Aztecs had been outscored, 255-7, in their first five games after winning eight times and making the playoffs last season.

La Quinta (0-6, 0-3) actually had the first two opportunities to score. The Aztecs reached the Bolsa Grande 5 before fumbling the ball away in the first quarter, and had a touchdown pass from Renee Sanchez to Andrew Harper called back in the second period because of a clipping penalty. Sanchez was intercepted two plays later to end that threat.

Bolsa Grande (1-5, 1-1) took a 6-0 lead before the half when wide receiver Jesse Jasso went 69 yards on a reverse.

Matador running back Ernesto Rodriguez put away the game in the second half, scoring on a 44-yard draw with 10:34 to go, then had runs of 35 and 18 yards on the next possession to set up his 8-yard scoring sweep. Rodriguez finished the night with 174 yards in 16 carries.

“This has been a long time coming,” Bolsa Grande Coach Steve Howard said. “Our defense played real well and we were able to bail ourselves out a few times.”

La Quinta Coach Guy Gardner was pleased with his team’s effort, “but our execution in the red zone is another matter. We moved the ball pretty well, but we couldn’t finish.”