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Monrovia Falls to St. Paul 54-42 in First Round of CIF: Arcadia, La Salle and Polytechnic High Advance
Monrovia Weekly Nov 14, 2016
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By Christian Romo
Photos by Jacob Bigley
When senior Elijah Hall went down, so did the Wildcat’s chances.
After scoring twice in the second quarter, including a 49-yard touchdown reception as time expired, Hall (3) limped off the field late in the third quarter with a leg injury. The Wildcats were only down by one at the time with a quarter left to play, but it felt like the final whistle to Monrovia’s season.
Advancing to the quarterfinals of the CIF Division 7 playoffs, the visiting St. Paul Swordsmen defeated the Monrovia Wildcats, 54-42, Friday night in Monrovia. Hall’s heroics helped build a 21-7 halftime lead for Monrovia, but the Wildcats stalled after losing their star player.
“We can’t lose that guy, he’s our MVP,” said Monrovia coach Jerry Chou. Hall and junior Michael Washington (6) flew through the Swordsmen secondary in the first half, but St. Paul contained Washington and the Monrovia passing game once Hall went down.
Michael Washington (6) completes his catch a run by holding onto the ball as he dives into the endzone for six.
St. Paul ran effectively throughout the game, scoring three touchdowns on the first play from scrimmage, to take down the Wildcats. “We were hoping to hang around in the second half, either to wear them down, or play better,” said St. Paul coach Rick Zepeda.
St. Paul senior Nick Redick (18) ran in four touchdowns, including a 69-yard spirit-breaker in the third quarter that put the Swordsmen up for good. Monrovia hung around with 21 points in the second half, but without Hall in their secondary, the Swordsmen offense ran loose in the open field, scoring touchdowns on seven of their nine second-half possessions.
Nick Redick (18) runs it in for one of his four touchdowns.
St. Paul will host the next round against Oxnard’s Pacifica Tritons next Friday at 7:30 p.m. “It’s our first home playoff game in ten years, so we’re excited,” said Zepeda.
Monrovia finishes 6-5 on the season, with a nightmare start turning into a league title and ending with a big what-if. When asked how he would remember this year, Chou responded: “The season that could’ve been.”
For More Photos of This Game go to: Flickr Photos
Arcadia 41-19 Oak Park
The Arcadia Apaches used 21 fourth quarter points to defeat the Oak Park Eagles 41-19 in the opening round of the CIF Division 11 playoffs Friday night in Oak Park. The Apaches will host a quarterfinal tilt against Quartz Hill next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
La Salle 27-7 Mayfair
Behind three rushing touchdowns from senior Amon Milliner, the La Salle Lancers beat the Mayfair Monsoons in the first round of the CIF Division 9 playoffs Friday night in Lakewood. The Lancers will host the Silverado Hawks next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Pacifica 15-23 Polytechnic
The Poly Panthers advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Division 10 playoffs Friday night with a 23-15 win over the visiting Pacifica Mariners in South Pasadena. Poly will face the Aquinas Falcons next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Muir 0-41 Antelope Valley
The Muir Mustangs were shut out in the opening round of the CIF Division 9 playoffs Friday night in Antelope Valley. They finish the season at 6-5.
Rio Hondo 23-38 South El Monte
The South El Monte Eagles defeated the visiting Rio Hondo Kares in the first round of the CIF Division 13 playoffs, 38-23, Friday night in El Monte. For the second straight year, the Kares finish at 6-4 with an opening round exit.
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