Chaminade football’s four interceptions stop Bishop Amat’s comeback bid
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Bishop Amat defensive end Frederick Lujan iii, left, tries to pull down Chaminade quarterback Javance Tupouata-Johnson (8) during the second half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade guard Adam Sotelo, left, celebrates running back Jaelon Barbarin, right, for scoring on a short run against Bishop Amat during the second half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade running back Jaelon Barbarin (4) scores against Bishop Amat during the second half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Bishop Amat defensive end Frederick Lujan iii (28) and defensive tackle Raymond Macias, right, make Chaminade quarterback Javance Tupouata-Johnson (8) throw the ball away for a penalty during the second half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade wide receiver Logan Carpenter, right, catches al long pass against Bishop Amat strong safety Corey Johnson during the second half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente quarterback Broderick Redden is caught by Mission Viejo outside linebacker Jonavan Asuncion, left, Joseph Mendez, top right, and Mikey Damato, right, in a South Coast League football game in San Clemente on Friday, October 14, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade linebacker Isaiah Chisom (9) stops Bishop Amat running back Aiden Ramos (5) on a run for no yards during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade free safety Marquis Gallegos, right, upends Bishop Amat quarterback Richie Munoz (7) for a short run during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade linebacker Mitchell Bermant (15) stops Bishop Amat wide receiver Julian Borrayo (11) after a short run after a catch during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Bishop Amat wide receiver Delano Franklin (1) gets past Chaminade free safety Marquis Gallegos (2) after a catch and run during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade running back Jaelon Barbarin, center, runs for yardage past Bishop Amat linebacker Julien Lopez (13) and lineman Korey Dukes (54) during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade lineman Hayden Morse holds up cornerback Ryan Abughazaleh in celebration of a Abughazaleh interception and touchdown against Bishop Amat during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade cornerback Ryan Abughazaleh runs back an interception for a touchdown against Bishop Amat during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Bishop Amat strong safety Richie Munoz, left, stops Chaminade wide receiver Alex Reyes (5) after a catch during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade wide receiver Isaiah Hearn (85) is stopped by a diving tackle by Bishop Amat cornerback Foster Slaughter, right, during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Chaminade quarterback Javance Tupouata-Johnson (8) runs past Bishop Amat strong safety Richie Munoz (7) for a 25-yard touchdown run during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Bishop Amat cornerback Carlos Alvarez (20) pulls down Chaminade wide receiver Ethan Alcantar (16) after a catch and run during the first half of a Mission League prep football game in La Puente, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
The Bishop Amat football team had its chances for a wild comeback on homecoming against undefeated Chaminade, but four Eagles’ interceptions and two returned for a touchdown, including a back-breaker in the fourth quarter allowed the Eagles to keep their perfect season in check.
Bishop Amat overcame a 22-0 deficit to tie the score early in the third quarter, but the Eagles surged ahead in the fourth quarter and closed it out for a 36-29 victory Friday to improve to 8-0 and 3-0 in the Mission League.
“We knew it was going to take all four quarters,” Chaminade coach David Machuca said. “We’ve had games where we’ve gone up big. I thought we got a little complacent and thought it was going to be easy. But this is Bishop Amat, they have a great tradition. What can I say, unbelievable night.”
Chaminade coach David Machuca after they held on for a 36-29 win over Bishop Amat. pic.twitter.com/bGIvgdaBH9
Bishop Amat (5-3, 1-2) suffered its second straight loss and although the team will likely make the playoffs, it will need to win its final two league games in hopes of earning one of the three automatic qualifiers from the Mission.
Bishop Amat coach Steve Hagerty did not want to comment after the game, rushing his team off the field.
Bishop Amat sophomore Frankie Villalbazo had a big night, throwing for 301 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions, with the Eagles’ Marquis Gallegos grabbing two of them.
Chaminade quarterback Javance Tupouata-Johnson, who is committed to San Diego State, scored twice and threw for 123 yards.
Villalbazo, who replaced starter Richie Munoz, came in with the Lancers down three scores.
Villalbazo’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Delano Franklin tied the score, 22-22 with 9:08 to go in the third quarter.
Chaminade’s Isaiah Chisom after a key interception late helped them to a 36-29 win over Bishop Amat. pic.twitter.com/Bcayug3F0m
Chaminade stopped the bleeding to regain the lead midway through the third quarter on Jaelon Barbarin’s 2-yard touchdown run to push the Eagles ahead 29-22.
Chaminade put the game away with its third interception, and second INT return for a touchdown, when the Eagles’ Isaiah Chisom picked off Villalbazo and returned it 23-yards for a TD and a 35-22 lead with 10:46 left.
“This was a really big game for us and on defense, I read it really good and got my first pick six,” Chisom said. “It’s a great feeling.”
Munoz returned late in the game and threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Valdez with 1:14 left to make it a one-score game, but the Eagles recovered the onside kick and that was that.
For much of the first half, it was all Chaminade.
On the Eagles’ opening drive, Tupouata-Johnson did more with his legs than arms, running twice for first downs on 12 and 9-yard carries, and finishing the drive with a 25-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead with 5:34 to go in the quarter.
The Eagles doubled their lead nearly a minute later.
Ryan Abughazaleh picked off Amat’s Munoz and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown and 14-0 lead.
It went from bad to worse for Amat.
After Chaminade was backed up to its own 15 on the ensuing kickoff because of penalties, Amat fumbled the kickoff back to the Eagles, and they were in business again.
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Barbarin busted loose on a 46-yard run to the Lancers’ 15, and a few plays later, Tupouata-Johnson scored his second touchdown, keeping it for a 2-yard score and 22-0 lead in the first quarter after the conversion.
It was Villalbazo’s two touchdown passes in the final two minutes of the first half that got Amat back in the after looking like it might get run off the field.
Villalbazo hit Julian Borrayo in stride for an 84-yard score to cut the Eagles’ lead to 22-7, and then with 19 seconds left in the half, Villalbazo hit Franklin for a 19-yard touchdown and they made the conversion to cut the score to 22-15.
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