Guards lose turnover fest

Optimism was everywhere when the Bellarmine-Jefferson High football

team opened its season with a nonleague game with Santa Clara.

The Guards were hoping to ride the success of a 2004 season in

which they won their first Santa Fe League championship in 50 years.

However, that optimism lasted until the first play of the contest

Saturday at Memorial Field.

Bell-Jeff wide receiver and defensive end Andrew Loera fumbled an

unexpected short kick from Saint place-kicker Alvaro Marin on the

game’s opening kickoff, dampening the Guards’ hopes and helping begin

a disappointing night that led to a 21-6 loss.

Although the Guards were able to stop the Saints on the opening

drive, the team became its own worst enemy, turning over the ball

three more times, suffering 11 penalties for a total of 95 yards --

including three straight false-start calls at one point in the third

quarter to kill a drive -- and netting just one yard rushing in the

first half.

“There was a lack of discipline I didn’t anticipate,” said

Bell-Jeff Coach Rolando Aguirre, whose team lost 14 players to

graduation from a squad that went 9-2. “The rustiness showed.”

Aguirre added while the loss was a tough one, he’s not worried

about the entire season as a result of just one game.

“It was embarrassing, so we have to regroup and adjust and we’ll

get it done,” he said.

Santa Clara, which went 3-6-1 a year ago, didn’t exactly play

perfect football either, losing three fumbles and being called for

eight penalties that cost the team 60 yards.

However, the Saints found a way to move the ball against the

Bell-Jeff defense, compiling 181 total yards in the first half alone,

along with all three of their touchdowns.

“We dropped it right in their hands,” said Aguirre, whose team was

also called for three facemask and two holding penalties. “It was the

first game and the kids have a lot of work to do.”

Santa Clara scored first late in the opening quarter. After

recovering a Ronnie Rohrer fumble on the Guards’ 22-yard-line, five

plays later, Saint running back Chris Hernandez scored on an

eight-yard run.

Bell-Jeff came right back, however, capitalizing on a Santa Clara

turnover. Linebacker Paolo Isip recovered a fumble on the Saints

12-yard-line that led to a 12-yard scoring pass to wide receiver

Christopher Viray from quarterback Victor Marticorena early in the

second quarter.

Marticorena finished the game completing five of 22 passes for 55

yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Santa Clara built a 14-6 lead on its ensuing drive, as running

back Paul Perez capped off a six-play, 53-yard drive with a 10-yard

touchdown run.

Perez was the game’s top rusher, carrying the ball 20 times for

127 yards and a score.

The Saints capped their scoring just before the end of the first

half when a 19-yard touchdown pass to halfback Lashane Qualis from

quarterback Stephan Raab finished off a seven-play, 71-yard drive.