Esperanza Dominates Fallbrook

Temitope Sonuyi rushed for 227 yards and Greg Farrell passed for 251 as sixth-ranked Esperanza made a statement in the most convincing fashion Thursday.

One week after a second-half embarrassment that cost them a victory, the Aztecs defeated Fallbrook, the top-ranked team in San Diego County, 42-23.

“They’re better than [Orange County’s top-ranked] Mater Dei,” said Fallbrook Coach Randy Blankenship, his team having lost to Mater Dei two weeks ago, 28-21. “We got our hats handed to us.”

Sonuyi scored three touchdowns, on runs of one, two and six yards, and Farrell threw touchdown passes of 19 and 74 yards to Anthony Vicencia. Shawn Wildenstein also scored, on a four-yard run in the first quarter.

“This win shows all of Southern California, that if we’re not No. 1, we’re No. 2,” said defensive end Alex deBrucky, who twice stopped Fallbrook inside the 10-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the first half. “We can hang with the big boys. I think we’re up there with them all.”

The doubts certainly crept in last week after Esperanza gave up 20 second-half points and lost to San Clemente, 23-14.

But the Aztecs (2-1), in the second half, stuffed a team that had averaged 38 points per game. On two separate drives they stopped Fallbrook inside the 10-yard line, limiting the Warriors (2-2) to a field goal.

Esperanza gained 251 yards rushing and 251 passing. Fallbrook gained 349 total.