By Anthony Merjanoff
The Huskies rallied back again with late game heroics and won the battle of Los Angeles. The game was a back-and-forth battle, a high scoring shootout.
With the No. 19-ranked Huskies down 55-51 to West Los Angeles College with 4:39 remaining, it took 10 plays totaling 75-yards to get a touchdown and the lead.
A 42-yard pass from Husky quarterback Aaron Cantu to running back Oliver Preston would help set up the 6-yard rush by Preston with 1:23 remaining in the game; giving the Huskies a 58-55 lead.
The game looked as though whoever had the ball at the end of the game would end up with the win and the West Los Angeles Wildcats had the ball with 1:23 remaining and time to make one last comeback.
Wildcats quarterback Dallas Lopez rushed for a few big gains to set up what looked like the game winning drive. Lopez threw two passes into the end zone only to be dropped both times by the receivers and Husky defense.
On 4th and 6, defensive lineman Carlos Purser got to the Wildcat quarterback. ELAC took over on downs to lock up another nail biter of a game. The defense stepped up again late to get the Huskies another victory.
“Our defense, when it counts, steps up and shuts them down when they need to; that is why we are where we are at now, 3-0.” Huskies head coach Steve Mojarro said. The Huskies would come up with their third win of the season and 10th consecutive victory overall.
Husky quarterback Aaron Cantu had six touchdown passes to tie an ELAC record for most touchdown passes. Cantu also broke the passing completion record with 37 passes completed in the game. Cantu spread the ball out with a total of nine players on the receiving end.
Wideout Robert McCovery led the team in receiving yards with 125 and 2 touchdown catches.
ELAC opened the game scoring in the first quarter at 1:51, on 79-yards in seven plays, ending with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Cantu to wideout Alexander Villalobos.
The Wildcats came back and scored on a 8-yard rushing touchdown by Wildcats running back Hakeem McGrew followed by Preston’s answer-back with a 50-yard rushing touchdown for the Huskies. By the half the score was already 33-28 with the Huskies going into the locker room with the lead.
The Huskies will open up Mountain Conference play against the No. 24 Mt. San Jacinto on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Weingart Stadium.
“Being the Mountain Conference champions there is no hiding East Los Angeles College; everybody has us down on their calendar as the team to beat. We have our hands full with Mt. San Jacinto.” Mojarro said.