Fifty-six points and 402 yards are pretty impressive offensive totals for a football game. Those are jaw-dropping numbers for half a football game.
After an explosive first half Friday, host East Union cleared the bench and coasted to a 71-6 Valley Oak League win over Weston Ranch at Dino Cunial Field. The Lancers (1-4 VOL, 4-5 overall) ended a four-game losing streak.
“We just wanted to be sharp,” Lancers coach Willie Herrera said. “I know the last few weeks we have not been necessarily paying attention to detail. The little things cost us big time.
“So this week we made the little things an issue, because if we would have done the little things right this year things would have come out different, but we can’t play the coulda, shoulda, woulda game. Now it’s time to go into rivalry week with a little momentum and see how good we can play when we do what we are supposed to do.”
Eric Morales (three carries, 62 yards) helped East Union to its stunning first half with touchdown runs of 20 and 40 yards and a 17-yard pass to Fernando Duran.
“We kept pounding the ball with good play calling,” Morales said. “We just drove down the field and trusted each other. We made good decisions and played together.”
Tyler Diaz scored on runs of 28 and 30 yards and led the balanced Lancers ground game with six carries for 103 yards.
“Everyone came out and did what they were responsible for,” Diaz said. “We haven’t been executing like we should the past few weeks and today everyone came out and did their job and it felt good.”
Lucky Salcido (four carries, 95 yards) added 1- and 20-yard touchdown runs.
“I am really grateful,” Salcido said. “I have to thank my linemen. When they block like that we get it done.”
Lane Cefalu (five carries, 65 yards) got the night started for East Union with a 5-yard touchdown run barely two minutes into the game. Matthew Slight (five carries, 94 yards) scored on a 54-yard run and Dominic Valentine posted a 10-yard touchdown run to round out the Lancers scoring.
The Cougars (0-5, 1-7) managed just 43 yards in the first half and had less than 100 with time running out when Atlantis Gholston hit A.J. Armour with a 60 yard pass to the East Union 20-yard line when he was hit and fumbled. The fumble was returned to the Weston Ranch 30.
A roughing-the-passer penalty was called on the play, and after lengthy deliberation the penalty was assessed from the point of the fumble, not the previous spot. The explanation given was that the Cougars were entitled to the yardage they gained before the fumble.
This gave Weston Ranch one last chance and the Cougars took advantage of it with Aaron Vickers Jr. (10 carries, 61 yards) scoring on a 10-yard sweep as time expired, fumbling as he went into leaped into the end zone, but Weston Ranch was awarded the touchdown.
“They keep on fighting,” Cougars coach Sal Reyes said. “Even with the low numbers and the injuries, they fight right through it.
“I couldn’t be prouder of these guys. They have been battling all season and fighting all the way through the fourth quarter.”

SCORING SUMMARY
Weston Ranch   0  0 0 6 — 6
East Union      37 19 8 7—71

First quarter
E—Lane Cefalu 5 run, (Cefalu run), 10:16
E—Tyler Diaz 28 run (Cameron Torres kick), 7:31
E—Eric Morales 40 run (Torres kick), 7:03
E—Fernando Duran 17 pass from Morales (Isaac Gutierrez to Lane Cefalu), 4:02
E—Morales 20 run (Torres kick), :17

Second quarter
E—Matthew Slight 54 run (kick fail), 10:13
E—Lucky Salcido 1 run (Pedro Orozco kick), 7:10
E—Diaz 30 run (pass fail), 1:37

Third quarter
E—Dominic Valentine 10 run (Pedro Orozco run), 7:15

Fourth quarter
E—Salcido 20 run (Orozco kick), 9:25
W—Aaron Vickers Jr. 10 run, :00