Imperial tops Central 34-10 in league opener, extends win streak to four
MPERIAL - Anthony Hellum Jr. returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown 14 seconds into the game, and Imperial took off from there, beating Central 34-10 on Friday night at Shimamoto-Simpson Field in the Imperial Valley League opener for both teams.
Junior quarterback Santonio Urena accounted for four touchdowns, three passing and one rushing, as the Tigers (5-1, 1-0 IVL) won their fourth straight game. The Spartans (5-2, 0-1 IVL) had a five-game winning streak snapped.
"It was a great win, team effort, you know, offense and defense really stepped up today," Imperial junior running back Deren Hueso said.
Central answered Hellum's return with a long drive, but a pre-snap penalty and two high snaps in the red zone forced the Spartans to settle for a Malaki Rodriguez field goal that cut the lead to 7-3 in the first quarter. Those were Central's only points until the final minutes.
Imperial took control in the second quarter. Urena capped an 89-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Danny Alcala, then kept the ball on a play-action fake for a short touchdown run late in the half to put the Tigers up 21-3 at the break.
Imperial coach David Shaw told Valley Sports Network at halftime that Urena was "definitely just distributing the ball and that's what you have to do against a defense like that."
The Tigers' defense set up the next score. Leo Morales intercepted Central quarterback Alec Hernandez in the third quarter and returned it to the Central 10, and Urena found Hellum on a 9-yard fade two plays later. Ryen Adame added a touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to make it 34-3.
Central's lone touchdown came on a 48-yard swing pass from Hernandez to Fidel Camarena Jr. with 2:02 left.
The win comes a year after Imperial beat Central 10-7 on a game-ending field goal in last season's league opener.
Central hosts Holtville, last season's league champion, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at Cal Jones Field. Imperial plays at Calexico at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9.