Jags spoil Tigers’ homecoming
IMPERIAL — Despite a solid first quarter of play, the Imperial High football team could not contain the Valley Center Jaguars, falling 40-14 at Shimamoto-Simpson Stadium here on Friday night.
The visiting Jaguars used a solid ground game on the legs of Mateo Sinohui and the aerial attack of quarterback Rikki Mazzetti to spoil Imperial’s homecoming night and drop the Tigers’ record to 2-2.
Sinohui gave the visitors an early lead after scoring on a 69yard touchdown run on Valley Center’s opening drive.
Imperial was unfazed by the early score and went on to score the game’s next two touchdowns, giving the Tigers a 14-6 advantage at the start of the second quarter.
Helping Imperial tie the game and take the first-quarter lead was a pair of seniors in Santiago De La Torre and Haider Awan.
De La Torre caught Awan on a 14-yard pass to tie the game 6-6 with 6 minutes, 40 seconds remaining in the first half after a failed PAT.
After the Tiger defense held Valley Center and regained possession of the ball, De La Torre found Awan a second time, this time connecting for a 57-yard catch-and-run play that gave Imperial a 14-6 lead after Joey Ramos punched in the ball for the two-point conversion.
While the Tigers allowed one score in the second quarter, they still went into the half with a 1412 lead.
Imperial had a chance to create more space between themselves and the Jaguars yet couldn’t capitalize.
Sergio Serrano gave the Tigers optimal field position after he intercepted a Valley Center pass and returned it 31 yards, giving Imperial possession on the Jaguars’ 43-line.
After a series of runs from De La Torre and Nathan Hart, the Tigers found themselves on the verge of a score, before the Jaguar defense stepped up and took over possession on downs at the 1-yard line.
While Imperial strutted its offensive and defensive prowess in the first half, the second half belonged to the Jaguars, who scored 21 points in the third quarter and six in the fourth.
Valley Center took a 19-14 lead on a running score from Mazzetti, who then went on to throw two touchdown passes before the end of the third, giving Valley Center a 33-14 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final period, Sinohuid score the final touchdown on a 9-yard spurt to send the visitor’s home with the win.
The Tigers move to 2-2 on the season and will close out the nonleague season on the road, traveling to face Mt. Miguel on Friday.