YORBA LINDA – Brea Olinda shook off a sloppy start to get an important league win as it defeated Esperanza, 46-24, Friday night at Yorba Linda High.
The Wildcats (4-4, 1-0) snapped a four-game losing streak and opened North Hills League play with a triumph.
Brea Olinda was led by Noah Rivera, who ran for 174 yards and three touchdowns, although Rivera didn’t have an ideal start to the game as he muffed an early punt return, giving possession back to the Aztecs.
Esperanza (1-7, 0-1) took advantage of the miscue and took an early 3-0 lead when Hayden Winters kicked a 22-yard field goal.
The lead lasted just 19 seconds as Rivera made quick amends for his fumble and turned a short pass from Dylan Flenniken into a 69-yard score.
The Aztecs answered with a 69-yard drive that was capped by a touchdown by Micah White that gave Esperanza a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter.
The Wildcats went with a no-huddle offense on their next possession, which ended with an unconventional touchdown. A high snap intended for Flenniken fell in the hands of Rivera, who ran 36 yards to put Brea Olinda back on top, 14-10.
On the last play of the first half the Wildcats turned to the Hail Mary pass as Flenniken hit Luke Meyer for a 46-yard score as time expired to give Brea a 28-10 lead at halftime. Meyer finished with four catches for 106 yards and the one TD.
Nathan Wyse scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and finished with 105 yards rushing.
The Wildcats, who won despite committing four turnovers and 11 penalties, will look to go to 2-0 in league as they face El Dorado next week.
