Eagles ready for state semis
Editor’s note This is the second of two articles previewing Saturday’s state football games.
E years,L CENTRO — For the past three the Southwest High football has been clawing for an Imperial Valley League and a CIF-San Diego Section title.
In 2015 the Eagles went 9-3 overall and 3-2 in IVL action. Their season ended in the CIFSDS Div. IV quarterfinals.
A year later Southwest went 9-3 overall and 3-2 in IVL for the second consecutive time. The Eagles then fell in the CIF-SDS Div. IV semifinals.
This year, all the pieces came together for Southwest as the team went 5-0 in IVL play and captured a CIF-SDS Div. III title. Not to mention, the Eagles are a perfect 13-0 on the year.
However, the team is not done yet. Southwest will return to the gridiron on Saturday night for the CIF State Div. 4-A Regional Final.
As an unbeaten team, the Eagles earned homefield advantage and will host San Joaquin Memorial from Fresno.
Given the Panthers’ stellar numbers on offense and defense, Saturday’s game will likely be the Eagles’ toughest challenge so far this year.
The Panthers head into the contest with an 11-2 record and are coming off a CIF-Central Section Div. III title.
Similar to the Eagles, SJM dominated in its section championship winning 45-31, while totaling 554 yards of offense.
The team’s junior quarterback Alec Trujillo stunned in the victory finished 22 of 25 with 332 passing yards and three touchdowns.
A favorite target for Trujillo in the game, and on the season, was Jalen Mcmillan.
Mcmillan had two receiving touchdowns in the win, bringing his season total to 21.
Equally as impressive is the Panthers’ ground game, which includes Leonard Glass and Justice Palms.
The two have scored a combined 27 touchdowns this season and strongly mirror a Southwest offense that has also put up impressive numbers on the year.
Through the air, the Eagles have quarterback Cameron Jungers and receivers Tyler Saikhon and Grant Hansink.
Saikhon also leads a potent running game that includes Justin Cordova, Reece Quintero and Derek Guzman, who has found his stride this post season on offense and defense. In the Eagles’ CIF-SDS Div. III final, Saikhon and Cordova both rushed for a pair of scores, while the defense came through with a pick6 from Carlos Ruiz.
While it’s true the Eagles will have their hands full on Saturday night, so will the Panthers, who will also be dealing with a Southwest heavy crowd.