ORANGE – Villa Park came at Esperanza from several angles early in Thursday night’s nonleague game and everything hit its mark in the 50-7 victory for the 10th-ranked Spartans at El Modena High.
The combination of quarterback Nick Sipe, wide receiver Dylan Bonilla, and running back John Stamos was too much for the Aztecs (1-5), especially in the first half when the trio combined with some stiff defense to build a 43-0 halftime lead.
Sipe was 13 of 17 for 240 yards and three touchdowns, Bonilla caught five passes for 152 yards and two scores, and Stamos rushed for 69 yards on six carries and scored three touchdowns, all in the first half for the Spartans (5-1).
Two good returns by Matthew Roach set up the first two touchdowns. He returned the opening kickoff to the Esperanza 34-yard line and three plays later – all completions by Sipe – Villa Park led,7-0.
Following the first of five three-and-outs by the defense in the first half, Roach returned the ensuing punt down to the Aztecs’ 20. The Spartans needed just two plays to take a 14-0 lead, as Sipe found Bonilla for an 11-yard touchdown with 8:46 still left.
Stamos, who came in averaging a team-high 76.8 rushing yards a game, didn’t touch the ball until the third series. When he finally did, he raced 22 yards through the defense on his first carry and finished off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run for a 22-0 lead after the two-point conversion.
Bonilla’s 57-yard reception and a 14-yard run by Stamos finished off another two-play scoring drive, and Stamos added his third straight rushing touchdown on another 14-yard run for a 36-0 lead with 10:26 left in the first half.
