HS Game of The Week: Santee 35, Torres 9 | 9.28.17

In Week #6, the undefeated Torres Toros met their biggest team challenge of the season when they hosted the Santee Falcons. And while this unexpected game challenge would become insurmountable at the very least, Torres simply could not overcome the overwhelming loss of two of its starting players in facing a resurgent and confident Santee squad.

Game Background: Santee, (Exposition League), who was also undefeated at game time with an exact 4-0 overall record, entered the game knowing that the “Toros” most valuable player, Tiquan Gilmore, was suspended for this game due to a “targeting” infraction committed in the Toros’ Week #5 match-up against Sotomayor HS. And to make matters even more unnerving for the Toros Head Coach, Charles Burnley, he was informed earlier in the week that a second starter, Antonio Greer, was also suspended for the game due to an internal team disciplinary issue. Faced with this untimely predicament, the Toros took the field and played to their best abilities. However, without the battle-tested services of Gilmore and Greer, the Toros lacked the usual explosiveness, confidence and grit they had forged for themselves up to this point in the season. The Toros will certainly be looking for a rematch should both schools make the post-season playoffs.

On the other hand, Santee Co-Head Coaches, David Tejada and John Petty prepared their Falcons well enough to win comfortably as they evenly displayed their dominance in the ground game, and via their air attack. The game was close at halftime, 14-9, Santee, but the second half belonged to the Falcons as they used their offensive line blocking schemes, their running backs’ speed and wide receivers’ size to add three more TDs. Add to this, their stout defense that played hard every play while shutting out the Toros in the second half.

The Toros managed to score their only TD on a 38 yd. catch and run by Jalen Williams in the second quarter. They earned a safety when a Santee snap on a fourth down punt from deep in their own territory sailed over the punter’s head and out of the end zone. The Final score, Santee 35, Torres 9.

Now we invite you to take a look at our outstanding production of Week #6, East L.A. Sports Scene’s High School “Game of The Week.”  

Note From The Editor: During the course of this game, the Play-By-Play Announcer mistakenly called #22 for Torres, Freddy Garcia. He should have identified him as José Barrera. We offer our sincerest apologies to both players and their teams. Rico Cabrera, Sr./Editor, EastLASportsScene.Com