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Rams lose high-scoring game to Westmont
By Dick Sparrer
David Macchi threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns.
Leon Thomas carried 16 times for 139 yards and a TD, not to mention his two kick-off returns that went for scores.
With those kinds of numbers, you'd think that Willow Glen won a football game last Saturday afternoon.
But you'd be wrong.
The Rams ended up on the short end of a high-scoring 43-42 decision against Westmont in what turned out to be a disappointing finish to an otherwise exciting homecoming week for Willow Glen.
"We had our chances offensively and defensively," said Willow Glen coach Sonny Flores. "There were times we should have buried them. But we dropped the ball... literally."
That's true. Willow Glen had the football and a chance to run out the clock for the win late in the game. But the Rams fumbled and Westmont recovered deep in WG territory.
Moments later, Chris Snyder scored a touchdown for the Warriors, then Tony Oka ran for the two-point conversion that gave Westmont the win.
The late charge by Westmont came with defensive stars Kyran Warren and Thomas on the sidelines with ankle injuries. Still, Flores wasn't making any excuses for his ballclub.
"Westmont played a great game," admitted the WG boss.
It was most definitely a great game for the fans.
Thomas gave the Rams the early lead when he ran one in from the 8 in the first period.
Westmont scored in the second quarter, but Thomas answered with an 80-yard kick-off return for a touchdown. Macchi ran for the two-point conversion, and the Rams were up 14-8.
Westmont scored again, but once more Thomas answered. The Rams fumbled the kickoff, but Vidal Cibrian scooped it up and ran five yards before pitching back to Thomas, who went the last 69 yards for the touchdown.
Macchi went on top to hit Will Rideau for 64 yards and a touchdown, and the Rams had a comfortable 27-15 lead after Scott Wallberg's kick. But the Warriors scored before the half to cut it to 27-21.
Macchi hit Rideau with scoring tosses of 45 and 18 yards in the second half. He tossed to Thomas for a two-point conversion, and Wallberg kicked an extra point to give the Rams a 42-35 lead late in the game.
But that set the stage for Westmont's game-winner in the final moments.
Macchi hit on 12 of 24 passes for the 212 yards and Thomas ran for 139 more working behind the offensive line of tackles Erik Lupercio and Chris Jones, guards Steve Klein and Ben D'Antonio and center Fernando Betancourt.
Flores praised the defensive work of Thomas, D'Antonio, Klein, Mike Strangis and Guillermo Rivero.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
