Each week, Prep2Prep takes a look at some of the key matchups involving Southern Section high school football teams.
San Clemente 49, Atascadero 20: USC commit Sam Darnold completed 14-of-16 passes for 178 yards and five touchdowns as the Tritons improved to 3-1 with an easy win over the Greyhounds.
Darnold’s spread the ball around, as his touchdown passes went to five different receivers. Junior Vlad Dzhabiyev added 109 yards rushing on 13 carries.
It was the first loss for Atascadero, which looks to get back on track Friday at home against Nipomo. San Clemente travels to Newport Harbor.
El Monte 40, Gladstone 22: The visiting Lions won their first game of the season with junior quarterback Edward Dominguez leading the way with 348 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Dominguez completed 29-of-41 passes and also had a rushing touchdown as El Monte raced out to a 32-0 halftime lead. Senior Christian Herrera returned an interception 47 yards for a score and Fernando Espinoza caught six passes for 76 yards and 2 TDs.
“Two of our three losses were close and it feels good to get that first win,” El Monte coach Joel Sanchez told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “We’ll be just fine going into league next week.”
Both teams came into the game at 0-3. Gladstone quarterback was held to 46 yards touchdown and was picked off five times. He did throw a pair of touchdown passes, one each to Jakeob Sedano and Harrison Huff.
La Mirada 45, La Habra 28: Senior quarterback Christian Lara was nearly perfect, completing 17-of-20 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns as the Matadores bounced back from a loss to Servite to improve to 3-1. La Habra dropped to 1-3.
Tony Brown led the receiving corps with nine receptions for 206 yards and two touchdowns. Nick Hernandez and Sei-J Lauago each contributed nearly 100 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
La Habra junior quarterback Eric Barriere did his best to keep the Highlanders in the game, completing 12-of-21 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 57 yards.
Rancho Cucamonga 33, Murrieta Valley 19: Junior quarterback Angel Matute completed 22 of 25 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown to lead the Cougars.
Junior Aaron Manning added 142 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 17 carries and also caught six passes for 104 yards and a score. Senior Blake Fisher hauled in nine passes for 120 yards for the Cougars, who improved to 3-1. Murrieta Valley fell to 2-1.
Ventura 48, Saugus 14: The Cougars broke open a close game as Tyler Smith tossed four touchdown passes.
Smith completed 18-of-26 passes for 306 yards for Ventura (4-0), which led just 20-14 at the half. Senior Chase Gardner rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on just six carries and caught four passes for 87 yards and a score.
Saugus, which dropped to 1-3, lost quarterback Chris Hamilton to an apparent arm injury in the third quarter. Hamilton threw for 114 yards before exiting. Running back Troy Williams rushed for 74 yards before also leaving the game in the third quarter with an injury.
“We’ve got two weeks to get better,” Saugus coach Jason Bornn told signalscvsports.com.
Ventura was down 14-13 late in the second quarter when Smith found Gardner for a 30-yard score to give the Cougars the lead. Ventura scored the final 35 points of the game.
“We came in at halftime and got feedback from the players,” Ventura coach Tim Garcia said. “We decided to run the ball up inside more, and we were able to do that in the second half.”
La Serna 37, South Hills 18: The visiting Lancers improved to 3-0 behind the play of senior quarterback Enrique Pacheco, who threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns on 13-of-16 passing.
Receivers Curtis Ashton (7 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TDs) and Jonathan Wise (4-153, 1) did the bulk of the damage for La Serna, which hosts Rancho Cucamonga Friday night.
South Hills (1-3) was led by senior quarterback Garrett Fonseca, who completed 16-of-25 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns – one apiece to Ryan Mauch, Ryan Carmona and Alfonso Meraz.
In other action … Charter Oak junior Kam Brown completed 16 of 29 passes for 290 yards and 4 TDs in a 41-0 win over Bell Gardens … junior Patrick O’Brien completed 9-of-12 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns to lead San Juan Hills to a 48-0 victory over visiting Marina … junior Ethan Harris compiled five total touchdowns and 238 yards rushing to lead Victor Valley Christian to a 58-52 home win over Crossroads Christian … Barstow senior Dion Brown rushed for 156 yards and 5 TDs in a 48-23 win over host Sultana … Corona defeated visiting La Sierra, 49-41 despite 223 yards passing, 161 yards rushing and four total touchdowns from senior QB Derrick Cruz … senior Christopher Glick rushed for 107 yards and two scores to help Granite Hills knock off visiting Central, 44-22.
