Monache Football

The Marauders opened their season this past Friday night when they visited the Lemoore Tigers. They came into the game looking to improve on a heartbreaking season last year where they lost 3 games by less than a touchdown. If Monache wants to make a playoff run this would be the year to do so, as they have a majority of their starters coming back from last season. High expectations are brought upon these marauders this season. Will they live up to these expectations? That’s for us to find out.

Julian Gonzalez carries the ball early in the first quarter of their game against the Leemore Tigers.

Monache received the kickoff and the offense hit the field for the first time in 2012. Immediately the marauder offense moved the ball as junior running back David Alvarado found a seem and hit the hole to the marauder 38 yard line. The drive was stalled. Monache’s defense showed signs of promise on Lemoore’s first offensive series as they came up with a sack at the tiger 10 yard line. Lemoore wasn’t going to be out done; they picked up the blitz and bolted down the field for a 55 yard run. The drive ended in 3 points for Lemoore. Monache’s offense didn’t give their defense much rest as they went 3 and out on their next series. The tigers then rumbled down the field which resulted in a 25 yard touchdown run by Jeff Fagundes and put the tigers up 10-0. The marauders offensive struggles continued the in the 1st half as they fumbled the ball and was recovered by Lemoore at the MHS 35. Lemoore’s Anthony Rosa made the marauders pay with a 5 yard touchdown run to cap off a 8 play 65 yard drive. That ended the 1st half with the score 17-0 in favor of the tigers.

The second half began with much of the same for the Marauders as sophomore quarterback Miguel Mejia threw an interception deep in their own territory. Lemoore couldn’t capitalize on the turnover and fumbled the ball back right back to marauders. Monache put on a drive late in the 3rd quarter which resulted in a nick aguliar 2 yard scamper into the end zone. The score was 17-6 after the missed extra point. The Tigers sealed the deal with a pair of scores in the fourth quarter, on a 36-yard run by junior Richard Doctor and a 27-yard pass from Andrew Trahan to DaeShann Bonner with a minute left.

The marauders look to bounce back this week as they take on Hanford at Rankin Stadium this Friday at 7 p.m., Hanford is also coming off a big loss to Tri-River Athletic Conference powerhouse Central High losing 44-3. Both teams will have a lot to prove in this matchup.

- Daniel Hernandez (Sr.)