La Mirada Dominates El Dorado

La Mirada’s potent offense proved to be too much to handle for El Dorado as the Matadors’ defeated the Golden Hawks, 59-23, Friday night at La Mirada Stadium.

The Matadors’ attack, led by Erik Meyer, Junior Vaca and Robert Price, gained 250 yards of total offense in the first half and La Mirada cruised to a 31-16 lead.

Meyer completed 13 of 16 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns. Vaca scored three touchdowns, on runs of 15 and 10 yards and a 47-yard pass from Meyer. Price scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, two on pass receptions of 23 and 41 yards from Meyer and another on a 38-yard punt return.

The Golden Hawks offense never got on track as the Matadors’ aggressive defense, led by Jeff Mathison and Alex Wagner, sacked El Dorado quarterback Brian Zurhellen nine times.

Wide receiver Joe Turgeon gave the Golden Hawks a short-lived 7-0 lead as he returned the game’s opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. La Mirada quickly regained the lead when Meyer threw touchdown passes to Jarrell Shavers and Vaca on the Matadors’ first two possessions.

Late in the first quarter, Zurhellen cut the La Mirada lead to 14-10 when he kicked a 38-yard field goal. However, Vaca scored two touchdowns in the span of the five minutes and the Matadors were on their way to an easy victory.