Torres Toros falls late to Kerman Lions

The Matilda Torres Toros football team had its chances to improve to 2-0 on the season, but the Kerman Lions scored with less than two minutes left in the game for a 28-21 victory.

The Toros cut the lead to one after a 96-yard kickoff return by Josiah Salinas, but Kerman answered a Torres late score with one of its own for the win.

“We shot ourselves in the foot, for sure,” head coach Joseph Marquez said. “We had a couple of big drops. We had some big penalties that stopped us on drives.”

Josiah Salinas scored all three touchdowns, two off passes from Jose Soriano, including one to tie the score.

“We were a little tired and made some mistakes defensively,” Marquez said. “We just weren’t locked in, mentally, like we were before. It’s growing pains.”

The Toros scored on its first dirve of the game, which culminated in a 43-yard catch-and-run by Salinas off a screen pass for a 7-0 lead.

Kerman completed a long pass to get into scoring position, but was forced into a field goal attempt that was missed.

Torres followed with a 14-play drove that went into Kerman territory, but ended in a punt.

Kerman drove into Torres territory, but the Toros came up with an interception in the end zone.

Torres completed a pass, but fumbled and Kerman recovered at midfield. The Lions drove 50 yards on eight plays for a five-yard touchdown run to tie the score.

The Lions turned a Torres turnover on downs into an 11-yard touchdown run to take the lead.

However, on the ensuing kickoff, Salinas picked up the ball at the four-yard line. He burst through a hole at the 20 and outran the rest of the Lions for a 96-yard kickoff return. The point after was blocked and Torres trailed 14-13 at the half.

Kerman opened the second half scoring with a two-yard touchdown run for a 21-13 lead. Kerman’s possession came after the Toros botched the snap and the Lions recovered in Toros’ territory.

The Toros came back with a 10-play, 72 yard drive to get back into the game. Soriano hit Salinas on a quick slant for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was good and the Toros tied the score at 21.

Kerman responded with a 11-play, 75–yard drive that included a fourth down conversion. Kerman’s quarterback scored on a 14-yard scramble for a 28-21 Kerman lead.

Torres tried to come back, but ran out of time for the loss.