ORINDA, CA-After a back-and-forth first half against Alhambra, the Miramonte Matadors shut down the visiting Bulldogs in the second half with a strong passing attack and defensive effort.
“We played well and fought hard throughout the game,” said Miramonte senior quarterback Tim Tague.
Tague threw for 296 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 77 yards and one touchdown. His favorite targets of the night were senior Nick Foster and junior Ethan Fischler, who had a combined 209 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The Miramonte defense made really big plays, including four interceptions - two from senior Casey McGonigle - and three big stops on fourth down.
“Our defense made some really good plays during the second half, and that really helped us stay in the game,” said Miramonte head coach Jack Schram.
Alhambra kept the game close in the first half, with rushing touchdowns from seniors Daymyn Blalock and Jackson Norried, including a 70-yard rushing touchdown in the second play from scrimmage from Norried. Alhambra senior quarterback Blalock also scored on a 46-yard keeper with 4:33 left in the 3rd quarter, his second scoring run of the night.
Three of Tague's five passing touchdowns came in the first half, as the Matadors led 21-14 at the break. He hit Fischler from 19 yards away in the first quarter, then connected with Ben Wemer and Ben Jungbluth during the second quarter. The Matadors extended their lead in the third quarter when Peter Stehr scored from 11 yards out, and Tague hit Will Cassriel for a 30-yard touchdown following McGonigle's second interception.
After Blalock's second touchdown run made the score 34-20 in the third quarter, Tague responded with a 24-yard scoring run of his own, and then hit Foster for the 13-yard score, the fifth Matador to haul in a touchdown pass during the night.
Miramonte junior quarterback Xavier Clark finished off a dominant performance with a short pitch play to junior Jason Paucar for a touchdown with 2:39 left to play.
The Miramonte Matadors advance to the NCS Division 3 quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the De Anza at Marin Catholic game, which will be played on Saturday afternoon. The Alhambra Bulldogs finish the season 5-6 and tied for second place in the DAL-Foothill Conference.
