Photo by Stacy Starr
It was separation week in the Moore League and Wilson took care of business on Friday night against Cabrillo, 35-14. It was a tale of two teams moving in opposite directions- the loss makes it two solid years since the Jaguars have won a game (0-4 this season in league) while the Bruins move to 5-2 overall and, more importantly, to 3-0 in the Moore League. The win virtually assures Wilson will be going to the playoffs but with Lakewood, Jordan, and (the no-longer unbeatable) Poly still on their schedule, Wilson has their eyes on a bigger prize.
Before the game, Wilson coach Mario Morales was well-aware of the fact that he couldn’t overlook Cabrillo. “We’re the last team they beat,” he said. Cabrillo started the game by trying to establish the run, but Wilson’s swarming defense moved the Jags backwards, forcing a punt deep within Cabrillo’s own territory. The great field position allowed Wilson to repeatedly give it to Ezell Ruffin- who was truly player of the game – before quarterback Brett Harper on his first throw of the game found Josh Bell for a 24 yard score on a third-and-long play. As has been the case with Cabrillo’s defense all season they were able to play well on back-to-back plays but ultimately couldn’t make the stop when they needed to most.
Both teams start sophomore QBs and both teams really tried to establish the rush, but when they did drop back to pass, Wilson found success (Harper was 3 of 5 for 56 yards and 1 TD in the first half) while Cabrillo QB Derek Stewart couldn’t get it going (in the first half alone he was sacked 4 times and threw 3 interceptions.) In fact it was the very next drive that started out with Stewart sacked on first down before he threw a pick on 2nd down. Ronnie Yat made the interception and had a very good 42-yard return for a touchdown called back on a penalty. But it wouldn’t take long for Wilson to score, a 5-play, 45-yard drive culminated in a five yard Ruffin touchdown run.
The next drive Cabrillo tried to establish the run with mild-success before a 4th and long near midfield forced Stewart to throw deep. Again it was picked off, this time by Philip Wilson. Cabrillo would hold the Bruins but on Cabrillo’s next possession, Stewart was again picked off, this time by David Lowe, who returned it for the touchdown and a 21 point lead. Wilson’s D again stopped Cabrillo, giving their offense the ball in great field position and it took only 3 plays for Ruffin to score again.
For the half, Ruffin ended with 15 carries for 112 yards and 2 TDs. Cabrillo’s Tyrone Swinton got most of the carries for the Jags and he did end the half with 11 carries for 63 yards but with such a big halftime deficit he had very little success in the second half.
In fact the second half started out with what turned out to be the last drive for Wilson’s starters, but Harper made the most of it going 3 of 5, for 52 yards, culminating in a touchdown, this time to Stephan Hauptmann. The 35 point lead would be the largest of the night, and the last time Wilson would score.
One thing you will always be able to say about the Cabrillo Jaguars is that they never give up. On the next drive, down by 5 scores, they fake-punted twice before ultimately sputtering out. Their next possession however they would move it 54 yards for a touchdown, and the possession after that they would go 98 yards for the TD. Derek Stewart looked rattled all night but that last drive he would twice find Derek Speight, first for 22 yards, then for a 36 yard score.
But ultimately the story of the night is Wilson’s ascension into the top-half of the Moore League. With their only losses of the year being to powerhouses Los Al and Edison, Wilson has certainly taken on the tough challenges and they passed the test against Cabrillo with flying colors. After the game Coach Morales congratulated his team on the win, and the playoffs, but reminded them that they still have a long way to go. Saturday, 9am, marks the beginning of Poly Week so you can be sure that Wilson has some tough games still left, but you can also be sure that they have their sight set on a big goal. After the game, after Coach Morales’ talk, the Wilson Bruins huddled up, put their hands in, and broke with a shout: “Champions!”