Esperanza Dominates Fallbrook

Temitope Sonuyi rushed for 227 yards and Greg Farrell passed for 251 as sixth-ranked Esperanza made a statement in the most convincing fashion Thursday.

One week after a second-half embarrassment that cost them a victory, the Aztecs defeated Fallbrook, the top-ranked team in San Diego County, 42-23.

“They’re better than [Orange County’s top-ranked] Mater Dei,� said Fallbrook Coach Randy Blankenship, his team having lost to Mater Dei two weeks ago, 28-21. “We got our hats handed to us.�

Sonuyi scored three touchdowns, on runs of one, two and six yards, and Farrell threw touchdown passes of 19 and 74 yards to Anthony Vicencia. Shawn Wildenstein also scored, on a four-yard run in the first quarter.

“This win shows all of Southern California, that if we’re not No. 1, we’re No. 2,� said defensive end Alex deBrucky, who twice stopped Fallbrook inside the 10-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the first half. “We can hang with the big boys. I think we’re up there with them all.�

The doubts certainly crept in last week after Esperanza gave up 20 second-half points and lost to San Clemente, 23-14.

But the Aztecs (2-1), in the second half, stuffed a team that had averaged 38 points per game. On two separate drives they stopped Fallbrook inside the 10-yard line, limiting the Warriors (2-2) to a field goal.

Esperanza gained 251 yards rushing and 251 passing. Fallbrook gained 349 total.