Aztecs Rally to Beat Miller

Trailing by 10 points early in the second quarter, Esperanza rallied for 30 points and benefited from six Fontana Miller turnovers to defeat the host Rebels, 30-10, in a Southern Section Division I second-round game Friday night.

The victory advanced the Aztecs to a Division I semifinal game on Dec. 2 against top-seeded Long Beach Poly.

Miller took an early 7-0 lead when Ben Cruz intercepted a Ryan Sausedo pass. Four minutes later, Miller got a 13-yard pass play from freshman quarterback Kyle Jacobo to Lawrence Lovelace for a touchdown.

Josh MacMillan added a 33-yard field goal less than a minute into the second quarter for a 10-0 lead.

The Aztecs’ running game was in complete command by game’s end. Temitope Sonuyi rushed for 225 yards in 34 carries and scored once, and Shaun Wildenstein added three touchdown runs. Esperanza (11-1) gained 323 yards of offense and held Miller (6-6) to 239 yards.

The Aztecs took the lead for good late in the first half after Miller’s first turnover. Shane Pierce made the first of his two fumble recoveries after Rebel receiver Trevon Henderson lost possession of the ball near midfield.

A nine-play, 54-yard drive culminated with Wildenstein’s second touchdown on an 11-yard run with 1:40 remaining. The Aztecs led, 13-10.

Miller committed turnovers on its final five possessions to open the second half, but the Aztecs cashed in on only one.

“In all of their losses this season Miller was unable to hold on to the ball,” Esperanza Coach Gary Meek said. “They beat Santa Margarita [last week in the first round of the playoffs] because they didn’t have many turnovers. I was hoping this week they would have some more.”