Eastwood quarterback Andrew Martinez tossed five touchdowns and ran for another three as the Troopers steamrolled the Americas Trail Blazers 72-8 and clinched a playoff berth before a capacity Senior Night crowd at Trooper Stadium. Eastwood put on a football clinic, finding the end zone on 10 of 12 possessions with zero turnovers.
The Troopers scored on the opening drive of the contest on a 53 yard touchdown run by senior running back Samuel Lopez. The Eastwood defense stopped the Blazers on their first drive. The Troopers started their second drive on their own 12 yard line. A 60 yard run by Lopez was the highlight of the drive, ending in a 12 yard TD run by senior quarterback Andrew Martinez. Americas moved the ball extremely well on their second drive, but the drive stalled on an incomplete pass at the Trooper 25 yard line. Eastwood took over and marched 75 yards to the end zone once again. A 7 yard TD scramble by Martinez gave the Troopers a 21-0 lead with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter.
The Eastwood defense continued to control the line of scrimmage, crushing the Blazers with a sack by senior defensive lineman Luca Gandara. On the ensuing drive, the Troopers found the end zone for the fourth time in the first half on a 58 yard run by Martinez with 10:34 remaining in the second quarter.
The next Americas drive stalled on the Trooper 44 yard line. A Blazer punt forced Eastwood to begin their next drive on their own 9 yard line. The Troopers marched 91 yards and found the end zone yet again on a 12 yard TD pass from Martinez to sophomore wide receiver Evan Macias.
The Trooper defense forced a fumble on the Blazers’ ensuing drive at midfield, recovered by senior defensive back Robert McIntyre. Eastwood needed only one play to make the score 42-0 on a 35 yard toss from Martinez to junior wide receiver Curtis Murillo.
Americas fumbled on their first possession of the second half, giving the Troopers a short field. Minutes later, Eastwood scored on a 5 yard run by Martinez followed by a successful 2 point conversion.
The Trooper defense stopped the Blazers on the ensuing drive and Rodriguez caught a 40 yard TD pass from Martinez. A successful 2 point conversion was nullified by an Eastwood penalty; the Troopers settled for an extra point, making the score 57-0 with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter.
Americas would find the end zone on the ensuing drive for their first and final touchdown of the contest, a 61 yard run by senior running back Caleb Miller. A successful 2 point conversion followed Miller’s touchdown.
Eastwood continued to march up and down the field as if they were trailing by 49 points. An 8 yard touchdown pass from Martinez to Macias capped the Troopers’ ensuing drive. The Blazers fumbled on the ensuing drive and once again Eastwood wasted little time finding the end zone on a 10 yard pass from Martinez to Rodriguez.
Martinez was 12 of 18 through the air for 231 yards and five touchdowns. On the ground, the Trooper quarterback rushed 12 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Rodriguez led all Eastwood receivers, hauling in six receptions for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Eastwood senior also ran for a third touchdown. Murillo was also impressive, catching 3 receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown.
Americas sophomore quarterback Mark Moore III was 4 of 8 through the air for 37 yards and rushed 18 times for 136 yards. Senior running back Caleb Miller rushed 3 times for 78 yards and one touchdown.
Final score: Eastwood 72, Americas 8
Ryan Adams Reporting