Error-Prone Brea Beats Baldwin Park, 24-13

Brea Olinda was its own worst enemy Friday, but the Wildcats had just enough offensive firepower in the fourth quarter to overcome their mistakes and pull out a 24-13 victory over Baldwin Park in a first-round Southern Section Division IX playoff game.

Brea Coach Robb Perrance was relieved to win after his team committed five turnovers and 120 yards in penalties, and lost starting quarterback Steve Stagnaro early in the second quarter to an ankle injury.

With its passing attack crippled, Brea turned to running back Manuel Gutierrez, who responded with 142 yards and two touchdowns in 25 carries--140 of those yards coming in the second half.

“Manny is a warrior,” Perrance said. “When the adversity comes, Manny wants the ball and he did a wonderful job.”

Both Baldwin Park touchdowns came off of Brea turnovers.

Defensive back Fred Lopez returned an interception 60 yards to tie the score, 7-7, in the second quarter.

Then in the third quarter, the Braves took their only lead after Gutierrez fumbled at the Brea 31-yard line. Three plays later, Robert Gonzalez found Richard Miranda in the end zone for a 15-yard scoring pass, putting Baldwin Park ahead, 13-10.

Brea (8-3) didn’t get the lead back until the fourth quarter, when it put together a 76-yard drive, its longest of the night, capped by Justin Rigsby’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Evan Moore with 5:37 to play, making the score 17-13.

The Wildcats put the game away with two minutes left when Gutierrez scored his second touchdown on a two-yard run up the middle.

Perrance said Stagnaro suffered a sprained ankle, but will probably play next week against Fullerton.