PREPSFor the first time in almost four...

PREPS

For the first time in almost four years, the San Gabriel football team will enter a game with momentum.

San Gabriel, which plays at Bassett on Friday, ended a 35-game losing streak with a 6-0 victory over Mountain View last week. It was the Matadors’ first win since October, 1989.

Junior Javier Mercado was the key player for San Gabriel. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 86 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Urias, and also intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

It was the first victory for Gary Gonzales, who became coach of the Matadors in 1991.

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The Rowland High water polo team entered the week riding an emotional high after upsetting South Pasadena, 11-9, in the championship match of the 32-team La Serna tournament.

Rowland improved to 12-5 with the victory over the 10-2 Tigers, the top-ranked team in Division VI.

Greg Way scored five goals and goalie Kevin Hammond had 10 saves for Rowland.

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Diamond Bar won the boys’ championship and Bishop Amat won the girls’ title at an 18-team cross-country meet at La Mirada Regional Park.

Vince Colf of Diamond Bar won the three-mile boys’ race in 15 minutes 28 seconds. Malinalli Martinez of Bishop Amat won the girls’ race in 19 minutes.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The unbeaten Mt. San Antonio College football team travels to Rancho Santiago Saturday night after improving to 3-0 with a 58-15 victory over Southwestern.

Mt. SAC gained a school-record 683 yards in the victory, 339 rushing and 344 passing.

Running back Leonard Green produced 240 all-purpose yards for the Mounties. He rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown in 14 carries and caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Alex Brown gained 117 yards in three carries and scored on an 87-yard run. He also combined with Cody Smith for a 53-yard touchdown pass play.

Smith completed 13 of 22 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns.

Citrus (2-1) has a bye this week after defeating College of the Desert, 9-7.

Kevin O’Leary gave Citrus the victory with a 27-yard field goal with 2:05 left in the game. Aaron Meschuk set up the kick with a 45-yard run after Shamori Walker intercepted a pass.

Pasadena City College (0-3) travels to Orange Coast on Saturday, hoping to eliminate the mistakes that proved costly in a 42-18 loss to Palomar.

PCC lost four fumbles against Palomar, which trailed 12-7 at halftime.

COLLEGES

La Verne’s football team travels to Eagle Rock on Saturday for a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Occidental.

La Verne (2-1, 2-0 in the SCIAC) is coming off a 24-10 SCIAC victory over Cal Lutheran. Occidental (2-0) will be playing its conference opener after victories over Azusa Pacific and last week’s 17-13 victory over Trinity (Tex.).

Danny Pasquil of La Verne is the conference’s leading rusher at 168.7 yards a game. Leopard quarterback Ryan Campuzano is the leading passer (184.7 yards).

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Pomona-Pitzer (1-2, 0-1 in the SCIAC) resumes its conference schedule Saturday against Whittier (0-3, 0-1). Pomona-Pitzer lost to Colorado College, 42-21, last week. Whittier lost to Azusa Pacific, 14-10.

Robert Hicks is averaging 88 yards a game rushing for Pomona-Pitzer.

Claremont (0-2, 0-1), which had a bye last week, plays host to powerful Redlands (3-0, 1-0), which is averaging 414 yards.

Claremont quarterback John Shipp has passed for 259 yards for the Stags, who have lost 21 games in a row.

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Azusa Pacific (1-2) plays Cal State Hayward on Saturday after defeating Whittier, 14-10, on Saturday.

Azusa Pacific gave up only 173 yards and overcame a 10-0 halftime deficit. Jack Manu and Chris Stevens connected on a six-yard touchdown pass play in the third quarter. Shawn Anderson scored on a two-yard dive to give Azusa Pacific the victory. Bill Zernickow rushed for 136 yards in 21 carries for Azusa Pacific.

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Nikki Egilske, an all-conference hitter for the Cal Poly Pomona women’s volleyball team, will be sidelined three to four weeks because of a stress fracture in her right foot.

Pomona entered the week 12-5 and ranked 15th in Division II.

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The 1993 Rolex Regional Tennis Championships will be staged Friday through Sunday at Cal Poly Pomona.

The winners of the singles and doubles competitions will advance to the small college championships that will be played Oct. 28-31 at Edmund, Okla.

PREP ATHLETE OF WEEK

Javier Mercado, San Gabriel-- Mercado, a junior making his first start at quarterback, completed 11 of 18 passes for 86 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Urias as the Matadors beat Mountain View, 6-0, to end a 35-game losing streak.

Mercado also intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.

COLLEGE ATHLETE OF WEEK

Danny Pasquil, La Verne--Pasquil, a running back, gained 207 yards for the Leopards in their 24-10 victory over Cal Lutheran.

Pasquil has rushed for 506 yards in three games.

MISCELLANY

A softball league for men 55 and over is being organized in the west San Gabriel Valley. Information: (818) 573-0129.

CALENDAR

A golf tournament sponsored by the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of East San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys will staged on Friday at Azusa Greens Country Club in Azusa. The entry fee is $60.

Information: (818) 331-5316.

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A golf tournament that will benefit Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Glendora will be played Oct. 11 at Glendora Country Club.

The entry fee is $175. Information: (818) 963-8411, Ext. 471.

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The sixth annual Five Acres golf tournament will be played Oct. 25 at San Gabriel Country Club.

Tournament proceeds benefit Five Acres, which treats abused, abandoned and neglected children and their families.

Information: (310) 836-4381.

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A 5-K and 10-K run and 5-K walk sponsored by the city of La Puente will be staged Nov. 7. Awards will given to the top three finishers in each age category. Information: (818) 855-1500.