Story by Nicolette Sarmiento
Editor-in-Chief
ENCINO–After taking advantage of four Crespi turnovers, the Bishop Amat Lancers dominated the Celts, 28-14, at Crespi High School on Friday.
Amat looked to bounce back from the tough, fourth quarter loss at home against the Bishop Alemany Warriors and defended the Crespi offense well regardless of the Celts’ size advantage.
On their first possession of the game, the Celts moved the ball into Lancer territory, but fumbled the ball. The Lancers recovered at their own 41-yard line.
However, the Lancers could not capitalize and both teams remained scoreless at the end of the first quarter.
Crespi kept the ball at the beginning of the second quarter and took the 7-0 lead within the first two minutes off a 17-yard touchdown pass.
Amat responded later in the half with an 80-yard rush by senior Idilio Sanchez after a five-yard pass from senior quarterback Rio Ruiz, tying the game up at 7-7.
Though the Celts reached Amat’s territory again, the Lancers’ defense picked off a Crespi pass and took over at their own 49-yard line. With time running down, senior Alex Gutierrez missed a 23-yard field goal attempt, leaving the score tied at 7-7 at the half.
The Lancers moved the ball quickly at the second half and scored off a Ruiz pass to senior Adam Sanchez, who ran 51 yards to give Amat the 14-7 lead with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Crespi fumbled the ball and the Lancers recovered at the Celts’ five-yard line. Amat scored four plays later off a one-yard rush by senior Zachary Shay into the end zone.
As Crespi moved into Lancer territory, junior Adam Alcantara made a diving interception at the Lancer 14-yard line.
At the start of the fourth, the Celts cut the deficit to 21-14 after a 36-yard touchdown pass. The Lancers got the ball back, but the game was delayed after an injured Celts player was taken to the hospital.
Once play began, senior Jalen Moore took over and ran for 19-yards into the end zone, making the score 28-14 with five minutes left in the game. The Lancers’ defense held the Celts’ offense on a fourth down and ran out the clock, giving them the 28-14 victory.
Bishop Amat rolls to 6-2 on the season and will face the Loyola Cubs (6-1) next week for Homecoming at Kieffer Stadium. Kick off is at 7 p.m.
