Bolsa Grande Tops La Quinta, Ends Skid at 21

Bolsa Grande stopped a 21-game losing streak dating to 1997 with an 18-0 victory over La Quinta Thursday at Bolsa Grande High.

Both teams entered the game 0-5. The Matadors had not won since defeating La Quinta two seasons ago and the Aztecs had been outscored, 255-7, in their first five games after winning eight times and making the playoffs last season.

La Quinta (0-6, 0-3) actually had the first two opportunities to score. The Aztecs reached the Bolsa Grande 5 before fumbling the ball away in the first quarter, and had a touchdown pass from Renee Sanchez to Andrew Harper called back in the second period because of a clipping penalty. Sanchez was intercepted two plays later to end that threat.

Bolsa Grande (1-5, 1-1) took a 6-0 lead before the half when wide receiver Jesse Jasso went 69 yards on a reverse.

Matador running back Ernesto Rodriguez put away the game in the second half, scoring on a 44-yard draw with 10:34 to go, then had runs of 35 and 18 yards on the next possession to set up his 8-yard scoring sweep. Rodriguez finished the night with 174 yards in 16 carries.

“This has been a long time coming,� Bolsa Grande Coach Steve Howard said. “Our defense played real well and we were able to bail ourselves out a few times.�

La Quinta Coach Guy Gardner was pleased with his team’s effort, “but our execution in the red zone is another matter. We moved the ball pretty well, but we couldn’t finish.�