Sometimes, it only takes a handful of plays to decide a game. For the Monterey Plainsmen, five touchdowns in less than four minutes put away the El Paso Eastlake Falcons for a 59-26 victory
Early in the second quarter, Johnson marched in from 3 yards out to give Monterey a 14-7 lead. After a quick three-and-out for Eastlake, Monterey struck immediately with a 54-yard bomb from Jaron Jones to Xavier White to make it 21-7. It was de ja vu all over again after a Falcon punt, as Jones again found a streaking White down the sideline for a 73-yard strike to make it 28-7.
Eastlake tried to make a comeback, but Eastlake quarterback Keith Tarango-Lopez had the ball knocked out by Monterey defensive lineman Dyshaunrick Lacy inside their own 15-yard line. Monterey would punch it in on a 13 yard pass from Jones to Trey Manahan. Just like that, it was 35-7.
On the next Falcon possession, Tarango-Lopez tried to make a play downfield but was intercepted by Trent Ward, who took it 45 yards the other way for a touchdown. 4 plays, 4 touchdowns, 42-7 Plainsmen. That run of points was part of a 45-point second quarter.
Monterey racked up 384 yards in the first half, in large part thanks to the rushing attack of Jaron Jones and Zae Johnson. Jones used his arm and legs to put up 235 yards of offense in the first half and four touchdowns. Johnson finished with 11 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
Eastlake had some success running the ball, but just couldn’t get anything going through the air. Tarango-Lopez finished with just 59 yards passing and 2 interceptions. Running backs Ezekiel Jones and Adrian Chavez finished with 118 and 112 yards respectively and four touchdowns between the two of them. But, the Monterey Plainsmen proved to be too much in this one as the Falcons fell short in their attempt to win a third straight area championship.
Eastlake finishes their season at 7-5. Lubbock Monterey advances to 10-2 and will play the winner of Denton Ryan and Richland in the next round.
Brought to you by:
