He might not be the flashiest running back the county has to offer. He’s not the fastest, nor the strongest.
What Los Amigos’ Moby Contreras has been this season, however, is the county’s most effective back.
The 5-foot-8, 180-pound senior has a nearly 600-yard lead for the rushing title. Through 11 games, Contreras has accumulated 2,299 yards on the ground, an average of 209 yards an outing.
“He’s a workhorse that just kind of does his thing on the field,” Los Amigos coach Carl Agnew said. “He’s a very humble kid that works just as hard off the field as he does on it. He’s one of the first guys in the gym and one of the last to leave. When we pass out scouting reports on Monday, he’ll come in Tuesday and already know it.
“He really does work hard and gives us the best chance to win.”
In the Lobos’ 48-13 victory over Magnolia in a first-round Southern Division matchup, Contreras compiled 290 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries. It was his fifth 200-yard rushing game of the season. He also owns a pair of 300-yard rushing games.
Los Amigos (7-4) plays Canyon (5-6) on Friday night at El Modena High with a semifinal berth on the line.
“We want to make sure he gets as many touches and yards as he can,” Agnew added. “We feel like we match up well against Canyon this week. So we hope to make the semis, and who knows from there. We just want to keep this ride going.”
TARTANS ON A TEAR
No county team has been more dominant this season than St. Margaret’s.
The Tartans have steamrolled opponents en route to an 11-0 record, and they appear to be a clear-cut favorite in the East Valley Division.
In the Tartans’ 59-16 first-round win over Excelsior Charter of Victorville, running back Oscar Gomez eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the 11th time this season. Gomez needed only six carries to compile 140 yards on the ground. He finished with four touchdowns on seven touches.
Cornerback Preston Ellis and linebacker Ryan O’Hare added interception returns for scores in the first half, allowing the Tartans to take a 59-0 lead into the intermission.
St. Margaret’s has outscored its opponents, 489-98. That’s an average game score of 44-9.
The Tartans face St. Genevieve of Panorama City this week.
BROWN PASSES MILLER
At the end of the regular season, Brethren Christian quarterback Conner Miller had established a county record for touchdown passes in a season with 42.
Seven days later, there is a new record holder.
Rancho Alamitos’ Nick Brown tossed a career-high seven touchdown passes in a first-round playoff game against Saddleback on Friday, giving the senior 45 TD passes.
Brown finished the Vaqueros’ 50-34 victory with more touchdowns (7) than incompletions (5).
The senior has completed over 61 percent of his passes with only five interceptions this season.
Brown will look to build on the record this week against Westminster.
Miller, who has 43 TD passes after throwing for one touchdown pass last week in the playoffs, has a chance to reclaim the record this week with a big game against Grace Brethren of Simi Valley.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
