Aztec Sophomores Step Up

Esperanza Coach Gary Meek pointed his finger in front of him and drew a question mark.

This was how he assessed his team’s chances coming into Friday night’s game against No. 5 San Clemente.

His top two running backs were out with injuries, seemingly weakening a rushing game that gained only 28 yards last week.

But two sophomores provided Meek with the answer.

Splitting the bulk of the carries, Louie Mares and Ben Alvarado combined for 218 yards and two touchdowns and the Aztecs defeated the Tritons, 20-10, at Valencia High.

“It was a big question mark,” Meek said. “We had two sophomores who had never carried a ball in a varsity game. But our offensive line played well and it’s nice to know we have a little depth.”

Mares, who had 123 yards and two touchdowns in 23 carries, wasted little time in showing he could fill in for Temitope Sonuyi (wrist) and Matt Parrish (ankle).

He carried eight times for 63 yards on the first series for the Aztecs (1-1). His 22-yard off-tackle run got Esperanza to the San Clemente 13-yard line and he capped the 10-play, 64-yard drive with a two-yard dive up the middle.

“I was a little nervous,” Mares admitted. “But I worked my butt off in practice, there’s no doubt about that, and the offensive line opened up some pretty big holes.”

Mares scored again in the third quarter, a six-yard run set up by receiver Ryan Murray’s acrobatic catch at the Esperanza six. Mares’ score gave the Aztecs a 17-3 lead.

Alvarado did most of his damage on a lengthy drive in the second quarter. He carried on nine consecutive plays during the 12-play, 74-yard drive, which culminated in a 31-yard field goal by Benny Mastropaolo and a 10-3 Aztec lead.

The Aztec defense took care of the rest.

Trailing 17-3 with 5 minutes 57 seconds left in the third quarter, the Tritons (1-1) drove 44 yards in two plays to the Esperanza 36. But Mastropaolo intercepted a Dan Coviello pass and ended the drive.

“That was huge,” Meek said. “That turned the game around right there.”

Esperanza had three interceptions in the game and limited the deceptive San Clemente “Fly” rushing attack to 107 yards. The Tritons got 69 of those yards on three plays.

San Clemente pulled to within 7-3 when left-footer Tim Hollis kicked a 30-yard field goal in the first quarter. The lone San Clemente touchdown--a 16-yard pass play from Coviello to Chris Roesti with 2:58 left--made it 20-10, but the ensuing onside kick failed.

San Clemente running back James Allen was injured on the first series and did not carry the ball until the fourth quarter.