Huskies Race Out to Big Lead, Control Orange Coast for First Win of 2019

by Cerwin D. Haynes

Holding Orange Coast to 188 yards of total offense, East Los Angeles amassed 578 yards on their offensive side of the ball en route to a decisive 45-17 victory over the OCC Pirates in Costa Mesa tonight. Quarterback Wesley Blazek found his groove in the first half, passing for four touchdowns to four different receivers (finishing 20 for 33, 252 yards and four touchdowns). Daniel Munguia led all receivers with 9 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown, with Justin Watkins, Branden Peterson, Darren Jones and Emajea Porter also catching touchdown passes (Jones with two TD catches).

ELAC showed shades of dominance in this one: despite one sack (Maleatasi Sofa), the Huskies defense controlled the line of scrimmage for most of the game and especially during the first two quarters. They allowed only a total of 43 rushing yards on 28 attempts - in fact, the Pirates had a net negative rush yards total until a 21-yard scamper by Nieco Walker late in the third quarter brought them into overall positive yardage. During the first half, East Los' defense stuffed three different rush attempts for one yard each and six rush attempts for a loss of yards. They also constantly pressured Pirates quarterback Adam Carr (17 for 36, 145 yards passing) into throwing off-rhythm. To wit, the Pirates went into the locker room at halftime with 74 total yards of offense.

HUSKY BITS

• ELAC's run game fared much better this outing than versus Cerritos (29 total yards). Eight different Huskies carried the ball, and the group effort amassed 171 yards on 21 total carries - a little better than eight yards per rush attempt.
• Orange Coast's first touchdown was courtesy of ELAC gifting their offense with an extremely short field. After an East Los drive stalled at their 16-yd line, Kicker/Punter Juan Rangel shanked a 20-yard punt. That same play, ELAC was hit with a personal foul. The result was basically a net punt of only five yards, which gave OCC the ball at the ELAC 21-yd line - they would ultimately score on a one-yard rush by Carr.
• In the third quarter, the Huskies converted a fourth-down attempt by way of a fake punt. Facing a fourth-and-four at the OCC 44, the punt formation came onto the field. But Jamaal Evans would take the direct snap and run 16 yards. ELAC would ultimately end that drive with a touchdown to increase their lead to 30-7.
• Backup quarterback Rudy Garcia would relieve Blazek in the fourth quarter. He would connect on 10 of 15 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. The Pirates at one point trimmed the Husky lead to 14 (31-17), and Garcia's two touchdowns would keep the game out of reach for the home-team Pirates.

UP NEXT: Huskies return home to Weingart Stadium to host the Tartars of Compton College next Saturday, September 21 at 6pm.

PHOTO CREDIT: Tadzio Garcia