Varsity Football Pulverizes Mark Keppel During Homecoming Game

Football_1

COMING HOME TO VICTORY
Alhambra varsity football players Dominic Wilson and Sheehan Ramirez tackle a Mark Keppel receiver during the Homecoming game on Oct. 23. The Moors won 41-14.

MOOR photo by AAQIL KHAN

ALEXANDER LIN
MARK LORENZO
Staff Writers

In the third week of the league season, the Alhambra Moors faced the Mark Keppel Aztecs in the annual Homecoming football game on Oct. 23. The crowd cheered loudly as the Moors rumbled onto the field.

To start off the game, the Moors received the ball. With the crowd cheering in the Moors’ favor, they were able to easily drive down the field and score. Next, Mark Keppel received the kickoff around the 5-yard line and struck back with a touchdown of their own. The Aztecs missed their field goal, which left the score tied at 6-6.

To start the second quarter, running back Joey Santana from Alhambra rushed into the endzone. The Moors completed the two-point conversion to make the score 14-6. On Mark Keppel’s next drive, the Aztecs were stopped by the Moors’ superior defense. This allowed for the Moors to score again, bringing the score up to 20-6. After some back and forth action, Alhambra had the ball in the red zone with only 17 seconds left before halftime. At this moment, wide reciever Steven Chester from Alhambra made an amazing catch between his legs while rolling on the ground, making the score 27-6.

“Personally, it’s a memorable moment in the season because, as a senior, that was our last game at Moor Field,” receiver Mark Alatorre said.

The Aztecs received the ball to start the second half, but the Moor’s defense proved to be too much for the Aztecs. With the ball back in their hands, the Moors scored another amazing touchdown, bringing the Moors to an astonishing lead of 34-6. Mark Keppel received the ball and drove to the 80-yard line as the quarter expired.

In the fourth and final quarter, the Aztecs scored, making the score 34-14. On Alhambra’s next drive, the Aztecs forced the Moors to a punt. The Aztecs were able to block the punt, but their effort was wasted when the Moors intercepted the ball soon afterwards. Mark Keppel managed to stop the Moors and started at the 12-yard line, but Chester intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown! Mark Keppel received the ball at the 45-yard line, but the Moors stopped them. Time ran out, and the Moors took the Homecoming game over the Mark Keppel Aztecs with a final score of 41-14.

“We went out and executed the game plan that we practiced all week and played with a lot of intensity. I think this is one of the […] most complete game that we’ve played this year.  I’m really proud of the way we played as a team,” Coach Sarris said.

The Moors now head into their next two games searching for an entrance into the playoffs with a 4-4 record.

“I think Alhambra did really good. They played a great game on both side of the ball,” fan Giovanna Gonzales said.