From Staff Reports: Muir has opened the past two seasons with blowouts over Compton. This season, though, the Mustangs were going big. They not only upped their schedule to take on San Gabriel Valley power Charter Oak, they did so on the road in Covina. And things didn’t start well. Charter Oak took the first […]
From Staff Reports:
Muir has opened the past two seasons with blowouts over Compton.
This season, though, the Mustangs were going big.
They not only upped their schedule to take on San Gabriel Valley power Charter Oak, they did so on the road in Covina.
And things didn’t start well.
Charter Oak took the first kickoff of the game back for a TD.
This Muir team, however, had the heart and stones to withstand that and a couple big plays by the Chargers.
Thanks to a solid effort throughout, Muir left Charter Oak with an impressive 35-24 victory.
Brian Love was strong and steady behind center.
The senior completed 15 of 22 passes for 275 yards and that included two touchdown passes.
Love hit John Freeman on a 32-yard score and Aryonis Harrison from 68 yards out.
Jahlique Stephens had a big game anchoring the running game.
Stephens carried the ball 12 times for 125 yards and a pair of TD runs.
Stephens scored on runs of 22 and 68 yards.
Aryonis Harrison finished with three catches for 112 yards, including that 68-yard score.
Muir coach Antyone Sims said his Mustangs’ took over the game on the first drive of the second half.
Stephens, thanks to a great effort from his offensive line wore down the Charter Oak defense and scored the first of his two scores.
On the next Chargers’ possession, the Mustangs’ defense forced a punt and one play later, Stephens sprinted in from 68 yards out and all but put Charter Oak on ice.
Sims also said sophomore linebacker Adrian Zepeda had a huge game with his team-high 8 tackles and for his ability to set the tone defensively.
Muir will have a rare “week one’ bye and then on August 31, they will fly up north to take on Stellar Prep in Oakland.
In the meantime, Sims said laughing, “we will definitely be working on our special teams” in the hopes of not giving up a game-opening touchdown in the weeks ahead.
Quotable:
Muir coach Antyone Sims: “I couldn’t be more proud of our kids for the way they came out and persevered through an early big play and did so against a team that has a great program throughout the years. This kind of win does a lot for our confidence and yet we know we still have a lot of room to grow. It took every player that stepped on the field to help us earn such an important victory.”
Box Score:
Muir: 7-14-14-0-(35)
CO: 7-10-0-7-(24)
Records: Muir (1-0); Charter Oak (0-1)
