Toros celebrate first Homecoming with win
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Matilda Torres receiver Jesus Moreno eludes a tackler during a 68-yard touchdown run that gave the Toros a 21-7 halftime lead during Friday’s victory over McLane.
The Matilda Torres Toros football team did its part in helping the school celebrate its first-ever Homecoming last week.
The Toros left no doubt in a 34-7 victory over the McLane-Fresno Highlanders to culminate the school’s first Homecoming.
“We played well, but we are still growing,” head coach Joseph Marquez said. “We executed better offensively. Defensively, we got tough when it mattered. Our kids were excited about homecoming so it was important to put on a good show, but they stayed grounded.”
The Toros scored on the first possession of the game and took a 21-7 lead into halftime. They held the Highlanders scoreless in the second half for the victory.
Amani Sua scored the first touchdown of the game. Joseph Bass scored a rushing touchdown. Angel Pereida, Jesus Moreno and Moses Soto also scored touchdowns in the win.
“Things still need to be cleaned up,” Marquez said. “We were effective with the play action. It makes it easier when you can mix the run and the pass.”
Torres opened the game with a steady diet of runs with Bass gaining 11 for a first down on third down. Quarterback Jose Soriano found Alan Avila for a 14-yard gain. Nila Demetrio carried for 10-yards to the 12.
After Bass carried for six, Sua came in to close out the drive with a six-yard touchdown run. Avila made the first of his four extra points for the early 7-0 lead.
After a trade in possessions, McLane began a drive in its own territory. On the first play of the second quarter, McLane tried a run to the right. Bass came in and took the ball away from the running back for a fumble recovery.
Soriano found Moreno for a seven-yard gain and hit Lawrence Watson for 10-yards to the two-yard line.
On fourth-and-goal from the one, Bass finished the drive with the touchdown run for a 14-0 lead.
The Highlanders began their next drive in Torres territory and moved the ball on five plays for a touchdown to cut the Torres lead in half.
However, the Toros came right back on the next drive.
On second-and-10 from their 32, Soriano hit Moreno on a screen to the left, He cut across the field and used a downfield block from Pereida to score a 68-yard catch-and-run for a 21-7 lead before halftime.
The Torres defense forced the Highlanders to turn over the ball on downs on McLane’s opening possession of the second half.
From there, despite three penalties, the Toros drove 74 yards on 10 plays for their fourth touchdown of the game.
After a holding penalty, Soriano hit Moreno for a 13-yard gain. Bass got the first down with a nine-yard run. Another holding penalty moved the Toros back, but Soriano hit Pereida for a 22-yard gain.
A five-yard penalty hurt the Toros, but Soriano found Watson for a 19-yard gain and a first down. Three plays later, Pereida found some running room around the left edge for an 18-yard touchdown run. Because of the penalties, Torres actually gained 102 yards on the drive.
The Highlanders began to drive down the field. The ydrove 63 yards to the Torres seven-yard line. On first-and-goal, McLane tried to run the ball up the middle. Again, Bass came in from behind and took the ball away for a fumble recovery.
The Toros, behind a 32-yard run by Bass, moved to put the game away. Bass added a seven-yard run. Then, Razi Molia carried twice for six yards. Bass gained another five to the 12. Then, Soto finished it off with a 12-yard touchdown run near the end of the fourth quarter for the 34-7 final.
The Toros will head to Sanger for their first game against the Sanger West Hornets.
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