#bishopamat

LA PUENTE  — The anticipation was certainly justified.

Every seat was occupied at the venue on Friday as Bishop Amat played host to St. Paul, reigniting a longstanding rivalry that has spanned decades. This match marked their first encounter since 2013, and the actual gameplay fully delivered on the heightened expectations.

In the closing moments, St. Paul's Christian Melendez achieved a 9-yard touchdown run with just 31 seconds remaining on the clock. However, rather than opting for the conventional extra point kick, the Swordsmen chose to pursue a two-point conversion in an attempt to take the lead. Employing a bit of clever deception, Melendez received the handoff, but rather than dashing for the end zone, he executed a swift pass over the middle. Unfortunately for St. Paul, the pass veered out of bounds, allowing Bishop Amat to secure a 29-28 triumph as the game concluded.

Newly appointed St. Paul coach Mike Moschetti confirmed without hesitation that they were indeed aiming for the winning play. He mentioned that their chosen play was flawlessly designed and executed, with the exception of the final execution.

“That’s going to haunt us for the rest of our lives,” Regarding the defeat and the unsuccessful conversion, Moschetti commented to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “The preparation throughout the week when a situation like that comes up, we’ve already prepared for it, we’ve ran it all week for that same scenario. It was a play we felt confident in, and just came up a little short.”

Following their victory in the season opener against Newport Harbor just last week, St. Paul had gained significant momentum. The Swordsmen were eager to harness this newfound vigor in order to break Bishop Amat's ongoing streak of seven consecutive wins in their series. St. Paul hadn't emerged victorious against Bishop Amat since 2000.

However, their aspirations will need to be postponed for the time being.

“We fought back, we kept fighting and gave ourselves a chance to win at the end to go for two and win the game,” Moschetti commented. “This is a big rivalry that goes back to the 60s and we expected to win and came up short. We’re going to think about this game for the rest of our lives, at least I know I will. It’s been 24-years since we beat these guys, so we have to find a way to play good football for four quarters.”

Richie Munoz of Bishop Amat showcased his remarkable performance with numerous impactful plays, and the same can be said for Brandyn Wetherspoon, Ryan Salcedo, and several other team members. This collective effort allowed the Lancers to maintain their winning streak against their rivals, extending it to eight consecutive victories.

Munoz, who plays the position of strong safety, demonstrated his versatility by taking on various roles during the game. He not only contributed as a quarterback, sharing plays with fellow QB Frankie Villalabazo, but he also took the field as a running back on occasions. This versatility highlights his standing as one of the standout dual-threat players in the San Gabriel Valley.

Munoz achieved a rushing total of 100 yards, including a touchdown, and additionally, he threw for 45 yards. Wetherspoon's notable performance included two interceptions and a significant pass play connection with Munoz in the first half. Salcedo, on the other hand, secured two short touchdown runs, further contributing to the team's success.

“We knew it was going to be a hard-fought game that was going to come down to the end,” Munoz commented. “But our team, we’re prepared for stuff like this. We’re physical and meant to last for four quarters.”

St. Paul's quarterback, Andrew Maushardt, completed 21 out of 37 passes, amassing a total of 292 yards and contributing one touchdown, though he also faced two interceptions. Orlando Zepeda made an impact by recovering two turnovers and achieving a touchdown through a significant pass play. 

Christian Melendez, who notably secured a 25-yard touchdown run in the midst of the fourth quarter, narrowing Amat's lead to a one-score difference, concluded the game with a total of 88 yards.

Bishop Amat, with a current record of 1-1, secured its first victory of the season while enhancing its historical series record to 29-15-2 against St. Paul. Notably, St. Paul has consistently demonstrated its strength over successive weeks, indicating that it will remain a formidable contender throughout the remainder of the season.

For Bishop Amat, this win marks a resilient recovery after their initial loss in the previous week's season opener against Valencia.

They didn’t fold, but we went up a couple scores and we’re doing dumb things, and turning the ball over and celebrating after scores and putting us in bad situations that is not characteristic of a good football team.,” Bishop Amat coach Steve Hagerty commented. “We’re glad that we won, but they just over threw the pass, they had us. Sometimes it goes your way.”

Bishop Amat took the initiative during its initial possession, employing a clever strategy by executing a fake punt on fourth down. This unexpected move resulted in a 6-yard gain as Munoz carried the ball for a first down. The momentum continued with Salcedo's 24-yard run, eventually culminating in a touchdown. Villalbazo found Talan O'Dell in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown pass, establishing a 7-0 lead for Amat.

In a situation where they appeared to be on the verge of a quick three-and-out, St. Paul orchestrated an impressive response. Maushardt delivered an accurate pass to Zepeda, who sprinted 89 yards to score while outpacing his sole defender. Despite a blocked extra point attempt, this play reduced the Lancers' lead to 7-6.

Munoz, returning as the quarterback, exhibited his clutch performance by completing a screen pass to Wetherspoon on a critical fourth-and-short situation. Wetherspoon capitalized on the opportunity and advanced 36 yards, positioning the Lancers at the Swordsmen's 3-yard line. Salcedo then carried the ball over the goal line, extending Amat's lead to 14-6 late in the first quarter.

St. Paul aimed to level the score when they found themselves in a first-and-goal position at the 10-yard line. However, their offensive drive faltered, leading to Navalta's successful 26-yard field goal attempt. This narrowed Amat's advantage to 14-9, and the score remained unchanged until halftime.

Munoz's versatility continued to shine at the beginning of the second half, this time as the quarterback. He embarked on a 35-yard rushing touchdown, enhancing Amat's lead to 21-9.

Just when it seemed that St. Paul's momentum was dwindling, a turn of events occurred. Ramos recovered an Amat fumble at the Lancers' 24-yard line. On the subsequent play, Maushardt connected with Dylan Arroyo for a touchdown, reducing the Lancers' lead to 21-15 with 3:32 left in the third quarter.