Thursday Final: Azusa still dominating the Montview, smacks Duarte 45-10; La Puente and Covina win big too
Tonight's results
Azusa 45, Duarte 10 -- Azusa running back Desmond Reed sat out the first quarter for missing practice, and with the miscues, bad snaps, flags and everything else that went wrong for the Aztecs, they were disappointed and fortunate to be up by nine at halftime against visiting Duarte on Thursday.
"It was really sloppy," Aztecs coach Joe Scherf said. "I started yelling at them at halftime to get going. It was one screw-up after the next."
Once the Aztecs and Reed settled in, though, the Falcons couldn't keep pace. Reed rushed for 168 yards and four touchdowns, and quarterback Jacob Martinez threw for 160 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 92 yards as the Aztecs (3-3, 3-0) extended their Montview League winning streak to 22 with a 45-10 win over the Falcons at Citrus College.
Covina 49, Nogales 14 -- Covina High School won its sixth consecutive game and showed why it deserves the No. 2 ranking in the CIF-Southern Section Mid- Valley Division with a 49-14 win over much-improved Nogales on Thursday.
La Puente 59, Ganesha 14 -- - It's only Week 6, but good luck telling that to the young Ganesha players who were in tears after Thursday's 59-14 loss to La Puente.
Or to Giants running back Aaron Gaulding, who carried the ball three times - all with his right hand, since his left hand was concealed by a bulging cast to protect a broken metacarpal. For Gaulding, it was easier to play injured than to watch from the sideline.
Reed scored on runs of 19, 10, 26 and 27 yards, and did it in three quarters of work.
"He's a special player," Scherf said of Reed. "He has tons of moves. He gets in and out and when there's no hole he finds one. You can't teach that, it's a special ability."
Although Duarte (4-1, 2-1) had started 4-0 and climbed to No. 7 in the Mid-Valley Division rankings, Falcons coach Tip Sanders knew they would have a difficult time against the three-time defending league champs.
"Our day will come," Sanders said. "We're young, we have only four seniors and a small offensive line. With the linebackers they have, they can bring the heat. Our guys were lost and didn't know who to block."
Azusa took a 7-0 lead after Eric Perez recovered a fumble in the endzone, but Falcons kicker Saul Acosta trimmed it to 7-3 with a 19-yard field goal.
Reed returned and scored on a 19-yard touchdown for a 13-3 lead in the second quarter, but the Falcons didn't go away, scoring when Richard Bradford recovered a fumble in the endzone to make in 13-10.
It nearly stayed that way until half, but Reed scored again on a 26-yard run, extending the Aztecs' lead to 19-10 at the break.
"He's the real deal," Sanders said of Reed. "There's not much we could do with him. But again, it was a good learning experience for our guys to play a team like this."
Azusa, which had lost just one pre-league game in the previous two years and was 10-0 when it lost in the first round of the Mid-Valley Division playoffs last year as the second seed, improved its schedule in hopes of being better prepared for the playoffs.
It resulted in an 0-3 start, losing to Maranatha and San Dimas, currently ranked first, and third respectively.
But now that the Aztecs are back in the Montview, it's business as usual.
"It was an uncomfortable feeling to be honest with you," Scherf said of the 0-3 start. "It was growing pains. We're pretty much a new group and got our butts handed to us, so we'll see. Hopefully it will pay off down the line."
Azusa led 25-10 going into the fourth quarter, then scored three quick touchdowns to force a running clock.
Ruben Salas caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Martinez, then Reed scored on a 27-yard touchdown to make it 38-10.
After a Martinez 37-yard pass to Salas to the one, Alex Cota took it from there for a TD, extending the lead to 45-10.
Duarte's Talik Mason played well, rushing for 77 yards on 12 carries.
For a team that entered the season on a 20-game losing streak and only scored 13 points all of last season, Scherf was impressed with how far Duarte has come.
"They're going to be pretty good eventually," Scherf said. "That little back (Mason) is very quick. If they can get that offense rolling, they will score a lot of points. I hope they do well and make the playoffs, it will be good for the Montview League to see Duarte winning again."
fred.robledo@sgvn.com
twitter.com/SGVTribPreps
626-962-8811, ext. 2161
28 Comments
Leave a comment
Links
Tribune Prep Sports
Miguel Melendez's prep blog
In the Huddle
ESPN
OC Varsity
San Bernardino Sun Preps
LA times Varsity Blog
Daily Bulletin Preps
Whittier Daily News Preps
LA Daily News Preps
Long Beach Press Telegram Preps
Daily Breeze Preps
Dyestat Track and Cross Country
MaxPreps
Rivals.Com
College Level Athletes
Miguel Melendez's prep blog
In the Huddle
ESPN
OC Varsity
San Bernardino Sun Preps
LA times Varsity Blog
Daily Bulletin Preps
Whittier Daily News Preps
LA Daily News Preps
Long Beach Press Telegram Preps
Daily Breeze Preps
Dyestat Track and Cross Country
MaxPreps
Rivals.Com
College Level Athletes
SaintsR4real,
You know me. You know I am just having fun. Not going to do predictions because what's the point? Really?
I think last night we played at a level that I wish we always played at. I can't put into words how proud I was to see them ALL playing up to their potentials. I don't have a kid out there, I'm just an old fart alumni, but seeing a bunch of kids having fun wearing MY school colors is a pretty cool feeling. Back in the days we sucked. I sucked. So it's good to see nice things happening to a Colt football team. We have a great coach, a great staff, and a great bunch of football players. I could not be any prouder if I did have a kid out their suited up.
It's HS football, mistakes will be made, but you could see in their attitudes they were having fun. They "got it" last night. It was nice to see the coaches on the sidelines applauding the players after great plays. Our OL coach must be doing something right...those trench beasts were AWESOME.
$6 to get to watch and experience it all is a steal.
And to Why? : He's part of out team and we would NOT be where we are right now without him.
CONGRATS TO AZTECS, COVINA, LA PUENTE, OH, AND EVEN MONROVIA ( BOUT TIME YOU SHOW SOME LIGHT).
Colt74,
Hey Bud, don't let these San Dimas Hardcore Fans get to you, as you said " San Dimas has class" as well as Covina. So you better take back all you said about Coach Z and his staff or I'm not gonna buy you that beer we talked about, lol.
Saints Fans, I believe when you talk about going after Billy, you're talking about him as well any other Covina that's pasing or running with the rock. Love to see your support here!!
Let's take care of business tonite, playing Wilson while staying healthy, cuz Covina is gonna come at us with a major goal in mind, as well as us.
My early prediction for SD @ Covina??
Saints 28.... Colts 24
Told you! San Dimas you are next!! It won't even be close, MARK MY WORDS!!!!!
Congrats to Azusa, you guys played a good game, and still look like the dominant team in your league.
Alright Colt74 you were right, but off by 10 points! I'll ask you later on your prediction for probably the biggest game for the Montview league.
That's a good picture of Coach Muncie, the big guy with his arms raised and great job coach last night!I'll say this it's always a good win for AZUSA, when playing Duarte.
Keep up the good work Coach Scherf!
"Where did you get deliberately try to hurt him and draw a penalty out of my comment."
Cluelss said,
"I'm calling this one, next week I believe you play San Dimas, Livingston will suffer a season ending injury. San Dimas is averaging around six sacks a game.
San Dimas will go after him, even if it costs them 15."
Then I replied.....
Then you replied:
"Is San Dimas going after Livingston, hell yes, that's just common sense."
So it would appear to any normal thinking person whereas you just agreed with Clueless.
"Do you think that San Dimas is going to go easy on him because his shoulder isn't 100%"
Not even going to bother with that one..it's pretty stupid, and no where did I suggest or hint to so.
"...but his staff will run circles around Covina's coaching staff."
They can run circles, do pulls ups, push ups, jumping jacks,...what ever they need to do to lose those guts...but they STILL would not be a better coaching staff than Covinas. But they would probably look better in those blue bowling shirts they wear.
I'd take "Doubting Thomas" over the "Mad Cow" any day of the week....as a matter of fact I would go down the list of both sides coaches and STILL chose every Covina coach over every San Dimas coach. I must be a Homer.
I'm done with this....let the kids play on the field instead of us on a keyboard.
why you hoping for sifuentes back? isnt Livingston back? or you just dont have faith in Livingston?
To Line Play,
You make me laugh!!!! The best thing is that next Friday, we will find out who is right and who is wrong!!!! Time for talking is over lets play!!!
I believe that S.D. and Covina might play twice this year!!! In my opinion the VVL is that tough!!!
Thursday, October 13th
CITY
SMALL SCHOOLS LEAGUE
View Park 41, Annenberg 8
SOUTHERN SECTION
ARROWHEAD LEAGUE
California Military Institute 60, Anza Hamilton 6
EMPIRE LEAGUE
Tustin 10, Placentia Valencia 6
GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE
Los Amigos 27, Garden Grove 14
MONTVIEW LEAGUE
Azusa 45, Duarte 10
La Puente 59, Ganesha 14
MT. BALDY LEAGUE
Don Lugo 48, Montclair 17
ORANGE LEAGUE
Magnolia 14, Anaheim 11
ORANGE COAST LEAGUE
Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 24, Saddleback 0
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Burbank Burroughs 70, Glendale 34
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE
Corona del Mar 17, Northwood 10
RIO HONDO LEAGUE
Monrovia 47, La Canada 2
SUNBELT LEAGUE
Heritage 34, Temescal Canyon 30
Paloma Valley 31, Perris 0
SUNSET LEAGUE
Edison 10, Los Alamitos 7
TRINITY LEAGUE
Mater Dei 21, Santa Margarita 14
VALLE VISTA LEAGUE
Covina 49, Nogales 14
Colt74,
I said of course they are going to go after him.
Where did you get deliberately try to hurt him and draw a penalty out of my comment.
Do you think that San Dimas is going to go easy on him because his shoulder isn't 100%.
Do I think they are going to get to him multi times during the game, hell yes. A matter of fact I'm calling this right now. Livingston's passes per game will be way down against San Dimas. Covina will be a run first team against San Dimas in fear of that rush.
coltfan97,
"Coach Zernickow is not the best coach in Valley!!!!"
Didn't say he was, but his staff will run circles around Covina's coaching staff.
To Line Play,
Covina has great line play!! We are big and we are physical on both the offensive and defensive lines!!!! Its S.D line I worry about its too small too!!! By the way have you seen are line play? just wondering!!!
As for coaching I am not worried about that either!!! Remember Covina came back from a deficit of 23-7 at halftime to win 28-23 last year!!! Where was S.D's coaching then? Then there is this year against Bonita why go for two when your up 6-3? They stop San Dimas and basically that one play took the momentum away from S.D. So dont talk to me about coaching!!! Coach Zernickow is not the best coach in Valley!!!!
First off:
Aztec Pride. Well, I got Duartes score right.
Second:
PROPS to Nogales. They came out ready to play some football! Tofiga and Bolden (jr) are play makers. The fake punt burnt us! Nice job! This team is better than their record shows. Their kicker who was warming up before the game was hitting 60 yarders with 10 to spare. WOW! One of his kickoffs I think landed in Covina Hills....
Third:
What a difference a week makes! The colts came out a little groggy but after Nogales burnt them for the first score got seriously fired up! Very few penalties and everyone was firing on all cylinders tonight. Especially the lines!!!!! Way to go men in the trenches! Both lines did outstanding but I would HAVE to give the game ball to the defensive line. We spent as much time in their backfield tonight as they did. That down marker kept getting farther and farther behind the other 2 all night!
49-14. And 2 touchdowns called back/negated.
I'm not going to single out any one Colt for above and beyond tonight because there were/are too many of them.
Outstanding job by players and coaches tonight.
Get well Mr. Sifuentes. Your presence is sorely missed.
coltfan97,
Please read what you just wrote,
"After tonight I know we could beat your five man defensive line! Their is no doubt in my mind!!! The Saints will not have the success in running the ball like they did against Monrovia and Azusa!!!! GREAT GAME COLTS WAY TO DOMINATE TONIGHT!!!
Covina 38 San Dimas 35"
"After tonight", you just beat Nogales.
"Their is no doubt in my mind!!!" you are predicting a 3 point victory, I see some doubt in that score.
Let me get this right because you beat Nogales you now know you can beat San Dimas.
You really need Colt74 on this one, your response is a joke.
I am going to give you the three reasons why you are going to lose,
Line play
Coaching
Coaching
Line Play,
Ok. Let's nit pick. 60% of your sacks were from 2 games. And how the hell do you get 5.5 and 9.5 sacks in a game. A HALF OF A SACK? Yeah right.
San Dimas won't get anywhere near that against the colts.
And there's going after a quarterback, and going after a quarter back to deliberately try to hurt him and draw a penalty. The latter is CS. In anyone's book.
My guess is now that this has been posted and "IF" it comes to pass there will be ejections. But then again this is all from a blogger so I take it with a half a grain of salt ( like a half a sack ). I stand by my original comment that San Dimas has too much class.
I guess we will see who was right come next Friday. At OUR house.
To Line Play aka San Diman Fan,
After tonight I know we could beat your five man defensive line! Their is no doubt in my mind!!! The Saints will not have the success in running the ball like they did against Monrovia and Azusa!!!! GREAT GAME COLTS WAY TO DOMINATE TONIGHT!!!
Covina 38 San Dimas 35
Good luck to both teams, have a good game, without injuries. Glad to see this article Fred. What a turn around for the falcons!
Colt74,
Not 75% it's 60% (18.5/32 = 59.6%), 60% of the sacks in 40% of the games. (2 of 5 games = 40%).
San Dimas got 5 on Monrovia and 5.5 on Azusa.
That will be the key to the San Dimas/Covina game. Can Covina stop San Dimas five man front?
Is San Dimas going after Livingston, hell yes, that's just common sense.
Cluelss said,
"I'm calling this one, next week I believe you play San Dimas, Livingston will suffer a season ending injury. San Dimas is averaging around six sacks a game.
San Dimas will go after him, even if it costs them 15."
Good luck with that! Covina is not San Gabriel or Nogalas where 3/4 of those 6 sacks a game came from. But at least it's good bulletin board material...
San Dimas also has a lot more class than you are giving them credit for. But at least it's good bulletin board material...
You know COLT74, your all Class! Hopefully one day we can watch a Football game. Maybe that STATE TITLE COVINA could possibile play in Fred mentioned. Wow that would be great for the SGV area and all the bloggers on here! Hey Colt, then I could remind you of the times when AZUSA beat Covina a couple of times! LOL...
You know I got to pull your chain a little bit! On a serious note, hope Covina does go all the way and WIN that CIF plaque that every team WANTS! Have a fun watching your team Colt tonight also! I won't try to predict the score, because everybody knows the outcome.
AZTEC PRIDE!
Cov,
Billy isn't 100% a grade two separation is 6 to 8 weeks to be at 100%. At this point he has 100% mobility, big difference.
That said your coach is an idiot, that is based on him playing the kid last week. I'm calling this one, next week I believe you play San Dimas, Livingston will suffer a season ending injury. San Dimas is averaging around six sacks a game.
San Dimas will go after him, even if it costs them 15.
Good luck tonight to AZTEC PRIDE and Azusa. I don't think they will need it. My prediction Azusa 35 - Duarte 10.
Have a safe game and come out of it healthy. We want to see you in the playoffs.
:)
Dont even start that BS. What was the program like before Crutchfield took over. Good Luck Falcons. How many scholarships? How many winning seasons? Kids with good gpa's oh I guess that's bad. This has nothing to do with that. It's a lot of stuff that went down that people on the outside does' nt know about. But that's over and done with. Falcons, keep playing hard and coaches keep doing a goood job!
didn't Duarte lose in week 3?
Billy is at 100% and ready to go. Let's get that league, cif, and state bowl championship boys!
tonights game will be a nail bitter even though Duarte isn't completely back to full strength (with the inner city kids) but the kids that Coach Tip does have will make it a game tonight good luck to both teams. And Congrats to Coach Tip for stepping in and rebuilding a salvage and robbed program by "Crutchfield" yeah i said it so what he did what he did and ruined a good program but now they have a coach that bringing it back Duarte will make playoffs this year to.
tonights game will be a nail bitter even though Duarte isn't completely back to full strength (with the inner city kids) but the kids that Coach Tip does have will make it a game tonight good luck to both teams. And Congrats to Coach Tip for stepping in and rebuilding a salvage and robbed program by "Crutchfield" yeah i said it so what he did what he did and ruined a good program but now they have a coach that bringing it back Duarte will make playoffs this year to.
I'll be the first to say THANKS FRED, for the ARTICLE! Big game for AZUSA tonight playing a good rival! I'm hoping playing that tuff preseaon is going to pay off for Coach Scherf and the AZTECS!
Funny how last season people were stating how AZUSA doesn't play anybody and they need to toughen up their schedule, well Coach Scherf did that this season and you don't find out how good your team is until you actually start playing.
Look what Bonita did to San Dimas and look at San Dimas now, and Bonita is having their difficulties as the season progresses. You just never know! Yes you hear the Montview league is weak and what not, but don't think for a minute that Duarte, La Puente, Gladstone would love to knock off AZUSA!
Good Luck to you tonight Coach Scherf, and you know the long history with Duarte. So i'm hoping you continue the streak and up until now your still the MONTVIEW LEAGUE CHAMPS, three years running!
GOOD LUCK AZTECS!
Goodluck to all the young men who are fortunate enough to be playing footbal tonite. Leave it all on the field, and may the best teams win.