Article by Christian Romo
Photos by Jacob Bigley
The Mustangs were only 31 yards away from a potential upset, but a defensive stop with fewer than 30 seconds left to play kept Arcadia’s undefeated season alive.
Behind two rushing touchdowns from sophomore Jahlique Stephens (#22), the Arcadia Apaches (5-0) defeated the Muir Mustangs (2-3) 19-12 on homecoming night at Arcadia High. The Apaches started sophomore quarterback Frankie Contreras (#12) in place of injured starter Max Davila, forcing the offense to rely on Stephens to run through Muir’s stout run defense. He was up to the challenge.
“My rushing touchdowns were basically off my linemen doing their job and my quarterback making the right reads,” said Stephens. He put the Apaches up 13-12 in the third quarter with a 12-yard touchdown diving to the right pylon, and he added another 12-yard touchdown run up the middle in the fourth with six minutes left to play. It turned out to be the deciding play in tight-scoring game.
Muir scored first early in the second quarter on a 21-yard draw from quarterback Darren Meyers (#32) after an interception from senior Elijah Blades (#4) set them up on their own 43 yard line. The Apaches responded later in the quarter, with sophomore Rolandiss Whitener (#4) running a fumbled punt return 40 yards for Arcadia’s only score of the half. It was a touchdown the Apaches needed, as they struggled moving the ball throughout the first half.
“There are obviously a lot of things we need to clean up,” said Arcadia coach Andrew Policky, who noted that his team moved the ball better when a halftime adjustment saw Contreras throwing more screens to his receivers. “Frankie has taken a lot of reps for us …it’s nice when you don’t have your quarterback, and your backup quarterback can come in in a big game, and we’re still able to get a win.”
Though Contreras played well, Meyers played even better under center for the Mustangs. He emerged as Muir’s featured runner, going for over 100 yards on the ground and setting up a Jonathan Stevens (#5) touchdown with a 56-yard draw up the right side of the field to open the third quarter. Cramps forced him out of the game late in the fourth, but he returned for his team’s final drive, getting the Mustangs within reach of tying the game. “The kid plays hard, practices hard, studies hard,” said Muir coach Antyone Sims of his quarterback. “He’s just a hard worker.”
Though now 5-0 for the first time since 2007, the Apaches have kept every game close, relying on run defense, mid-game offensive adjustments, and momentum-shifting plays to keep them undefeated. But Whitener, who was responsible for this week’s momentum-shifting play, still feels good about his team. “It feels like we’re going to win every game,” he said.
The Apaches look to continue their winning streak at Burroughs next Friday, while the Mustangs host Crescenta Valley next Friday at 7 p.m.
