Football:
Written by Eric Greene, and photos from Randy Bell
It had been 28 days since Monrovia had won a football game.
In fact, MHS suffered a pair of sizeable setbacks sandwiched between a week-four bye.
Ayala and San Dimas defeated Monrovia by a combined margin of 89-28. in week-three and week-five contests.
MHS opened Rio Hondo League play on Thursday night and fell behind, 14-7, at undefeated South Pasadena.
The Wildcats would outscore the Tigers, 28-7 the rest of the way and claimed a 35-21 victory.
Ethan Najera, who usually serves as the No. 2 running back for the Wildcats was the game changer.
Najera rushed for 140 yards on 19 carries, and that included TD runs of 5 and 9 yards.
Najera’s second score, which gave the Wildcats a 14-point lead, was set up by a Carlos Hernandez interception of South Pasadena’s Jackson Freking.
Najera filled in for Marcel Jones, because of tenderness in his hamstring.
Brian Salazar Jr threw for 102 yards, including one TD, and the MHS junior scored on a 23-yard run to give the Wildcats a 28-14 lead.
Salazar’s second TD was set up by a Manny Viramontes pick of Freking.
Freking finished the game 16 of 36 for 240 yards, including a 20-yard TD pass to Richard Conti.
Conti led everyone with six catches and 98 yards receiving.
Up next: The Wildcats will host La Canada next Friday at 7.
The Spartans (3-2, 0-0) will battle visiting San Marino tonight (Friday) in their RHL opener.
Box Score:
M: 7-7-14-7-(35)
SP: 14-0-0-7-(21)
Records: Monrovia (4-2, 1-0); South Pasadena (5-1, 0-1)
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