Sang Lee
LAKEWOOD--No matter how many practices or full-contact drills that
Hoover High Coach Rob Swartz had his team participate in, he knew that
only under the lights of Friday night will give his team experience.
The Tornadoes lost their season opener, 48-0, to Artesia High Friday
in Lakewood.
If there's any consolation from the trouncing, the Tornadoes are very
young primarily being composed of underclassmen and this was the first
time that most of the players got their feet wet in the varsity level.
Also, Swartz believed that Artesia might have been the best team his
squad will face all season.
"We're very inexperienced, especially up front. We have two sophomore
running backs. In my opinion, (Artesia) is very talented and on tape they
look better than almost any team we play this year," Swartz said.
"The kids do what I ask them to do, they just don't understand
everything yet."
Hoover couldn't figure out how to stop the Pioneer attack as Artesia
poured in 35 points in the first half. Quinton Jones touched the ball six
times in the first half and had four touchdowns. He had runs of 22, 69
and eight yards for scores and added an 18 yard touchdown reception.
Gerod Brand picked up where Jones left off with two more endzone trips in
the second half coming off 10 and 14 yard runs. The other touchdown came
when Devin Lee caught a Jake Schnekenburgur pass and trotted into the
endzone for a 33 yard scamper.
The Tornado attack was stagnant gaining only 50 yards off total
offense. Armond Esmaili led the team in rushing with 21 yards on eight tries. Robert Kurtz had a tough time finding open receivers going two for
ten with 16 yards.
"The kids went out there for the first time and saw the lights and
forgot their assignments. It also didn't help that the guy in front of
them was 150 pounds bigger than them," Swartz said.
Hoover will test their luck next week against an opponent more fitting
of their skill level with South Pasadena. Last year, the Tornadoes
triumphed over the Tigers 14-7. The game will be played at South Pasadena
High at 7:30 p.m.
HOOVER*0*0*0*0-0
ARTESIA*13*21*7*7-48
First Quarter
A-Jones 18 pass from Schneckenburgur (kick failed) 9:36
A-Jones 22 run (Campos kick) 5:22
Second Quarter
A-Jones 69 run (Campos kick) 11:05
A-Jones 8 run (Campos kick) 9:15
A-Lee 33 pass from Schneckenburgur (Campos kick) 5:11
Third Quarter
A-Brand 10 run (Campos kick) 3:53
Fourth Quarter
A-Brand 14 run (Campos kick) 3:07
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Hoover-Esmaili 8-21. Riojas 1-8. Kurtz 5-4. Rangel 1-3. Kim
7-0. Isayan 2-(-10).
Artesia-Jones 5-130. Prescott 6-51. G.Brand 9-48. Iloilo 1-34. Stewart
2-18. Washington 4-8. I.Brand 1-5.
PASSING: Hoover-Kurtz 2-10-0 16 yards. Isayan 0-1 0 yards. Rangel 0-1
0 yards. Artesia-Schnekenburgur 4-6 112 yards, 2 TD(18,33 yards).
Prescott 0-1-0 0 yards.
RECEIVING: Hoover-Rangel 1-8. Pena 1-8. Artesia-I.Brand 1-50. Lee 1-33
1 TD(33 yards). Jones 1-18 1 TD(18 yards). Iloilo 1-11.
PUNTING:Hoover-Rangel 5-164 (32.8 yards). Artesia-none.
FUMBLE RECOVERIES:Hoover-Lopez. Artesia-Machuca.
INTERCEPTIONS:Hoover-none. Artesia-none.
