WESTMINSTER – Westminster on Friday demonstrated it can win even when it’s not on, but the sluggish victory over visiting Magnolia came with what might be a heavy price.
Sophomore Jacob McGookin ran for three touchdowns and the Lions’ defense conceded just 119 total yards in a 22-6 romp, but the CIF-SS Southern Division’s top-ranked team lost another vital player to injury.
Leading rusher Josh Avila hurt his right ankle early in the second quarter. Coach Ted McMillen, who lost receiver/defensive back Alex Reyes to a season-ending broken leg in practice Tuesday, said it “doesn’t sound good, to be honest with you.”
Michael Gurrola, playing with a broken arm, stepped in for Avila and ran for 71 yards on 20 carries – one of the bright spots on a less-than-satisfying evening for Westminster (4-0).
“Ugly game … ” McMillen said. “Not playing very sharp right now, (and) at this point, records are unimportant. I’m not even thinking about our record, I’m just trying to improve, and I’m not sure we’re doing that yet.”
The Lions were solid defensively, forcing three turnovers, all of them leading to touchdowns, and holding Magnolia (2-3) to 19 yards in the second and third quarters.
Running back Kalolo Pangia, who rushed for 563 yards in the Sentinels’ first three games but was held to 15 in last week’s loss to Kennedy, ran for just 25, all in the first half.
His numbers are victim in great part to injuries along the offensive line, Magnolia’s expected strength this season, with left tackle Vincent Bolanos (broken leg), his backup Estevan Garcia (concussion) and right guard Alfonso Vergara (shoulder) unavailable.
Pangia fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, and Westminster methodically drove 43 yards for McGookin’s first score, a 2-yard run.
Lineman Andrew Acosta’s interception of a screen pass set up the McGookin’s 4-yard run with 3:29 left in the half, and Westminster made it 16-0 on a 24-yard Fidel Santana field goal right before the break. McGookin scored again late in the third quarter following another Magnolia fumble – and only after Isayah Anderson grabbed a fourth-down hail-Mary pass from Matt Dinh at the Sentinels’ 2-yard line.
