By Joseph Moronez
Staff Writer
LA PUENTE – The Bishop Amat Lancers struggled in their season opener against the Garfield Bulldogs, although they did win, 14-0, at Kiefer Stadium on Friday night.
Sophomore Koa Haynes started the football game at quarterback for the Lancers instead of senior star Rio Ruiz. He completed his first pass of the game to junior wide receiver Joseph Cook.
But the Lancers couldn’t move the ball in the first quarter.
Thankfully for the Lancers, the defense kept them in the game en route to a shutout for the second straight year against the Bulldogs.
The Lancers won 23-0 last season.
Ruiz replaced Haynes in the second quarter, but Amat still couldn’t move the ball against the stubborn Bulldog defense.
After a four and out the Bulldogs punted and senior Zachary Shay returned the ball to Garfield’s 25-yard line.
Then senior running back Jalen Moore had a long run close to the goal line and punched it in two plays later to give the Lancers their first score of the season and the game. After the extra point, the Lancers led 7-0.
Each defense played tough and the game remained 7-0 until late in the fourth quarter when Shay punched the ball in from the 1-yard line to give the Lancers a 14-0.
On one drive, the Lancers had two touchdowns called back because of penalties. They muffed the field goal and came away from an impressive drive with zero points.
Next week, the Lancers play Anaheim Servite at Cerritos College.
