RUBIDOUX – Sparked by an early interception return for a touchdown, Patriot defeated Jurupa Hills 44-29 Friday night in a nonleague game at Rubidoux High School.
Senior free safety Anthony Prado’s 52-yard pick-six in the first quarter proved motivational as Patriot (4-1 overall) controlled the clock to win their its consecutive game.
“I was confident that our defense would step up and they did,” Patriot coach Chris Fowler said. “They sparked a lot of what we did tonight. When Prado got that pick-six it just brought life to the stands.”
Isaac Flores ran for 185 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries, and three big receptions from tight end Dominic Pascuali moved the chains at critical times for the Warriors, who totaled 355 offensive yards in their homecoming game.
“We don’t schedule cupcakes for homecoming because I want to be tested for league,” Fowler said. “(Jurupa Hills) was 4-0, but went at them early and we just had the vibe and the juice to get it done.”
Zane Scarbrough passed for two touchdowns and ran for another, but threw his first interception since Week 0 and fumbled on the goal line in the loss for Jurupa Hills (4-1), which was held to just 47 rushing yards.
“It’s the first time we’ve lost the turnover battle, and that resulted in us losing our first football game,” Jurupa Hills coach Citos Martinez said. “They challenged us and made Zane make some throws and take some punishment.”
Jurupa Hills set the tone for a high-scoring game when it used seven plays to score on the opening drive, culminated when Scarbrough found Jausquin Spratt back-peddling wide open in the end zone.
Flores got Patriot’s running attack going early with gains of 5, 8, 4, 8 and 2 yards before punching it to from the 7 and adding the two-point conversion as the Warriors took an 8-7 lead midway through the first quarter.
The Spartans, averaging more than 40 points per game, shot back as Scarbrough hit Trayton Cooper on an outside screen that the receiver took 53 yards down to the 5. Scarbrough finished the drive with a 1-yard scoring run to retake a 13-8 lead.
Unable to move the ball on its second drive, Patriot was forced to punt but after a 6-yard loss on first down Scarbrough overthrew his intended target and the ball landed in the hands of Prado, who weaved his way 52 yards to score the go-ahead touchdown.
“The brought life to our sidelines and everyone believed then,” Fowler said. “We were skeptical but once that happened we knew we had them in our sights.”
Alex Grace completed 3 of 4 pass attempts – all to Pascuali – for 87 yards. Grace also ran for 54 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
