Monroe Is Run Down by Wright

CANOGA PARK — In the long run, El Camino Real High running back Quincy Wright made the difference.

In the short run, too.

Wright, a senior tailback, rushed for 269 yards and four touchdowns in 21 carries to lead the Conquistadores to a 45-6 rout of Monroe in a City Section 3-A Division quarterfinal Wednesday night at Canoga Park High.

In what was billed as a battle of backs and potent running attacks, Wright eclipsed Monroe’s Vinny Walker and the Vikings’ precision double-wing attack with scoring runs of two, 63, 26 and 57 yards.

The victory earned El Camino Real (8-4) a trip to its first semifinal since 1990. The Conquistadores play Jefferson on Dec. 5 at a site to be determined. Jefferson defeated Lincoln, 47-12, on Wednesday.

“Basically, I have to give it up to our offensive line,” Wright said. “I was barely being touched. Our line was blowing them back on every single play.”

In a game that featured few passes on a rain-soaked field, El Camino Real outrushed Monroe, 342 yards to 183.

Monroe (8-4) entered the game averaging better than 300 yards rushing. But Walker, who entered the game with 1,533 yards rushing, was held to 67 yards in 18 carries--including a 20-yard touchdown run, his longest gain of the game.

“It was hard to get through the holes,” Walker said. “We tried to make adjustments, but we couldn’t come up with them.”

After a scoreless first period, Wright gave El Camino Real a 6-0 lead with a two-yard run that capped a 13-play drive in which he rushed for 38 of 76 yards.

Monroe countered with a four-play, 57-yard drive that culminated with Walker’s scoring run.

From there, Walker and backfield mate George Garcia, who entered the game with 1,045 yards rushing, struggled for every gain.

Walker had only one other run longer than nine yards and was held to three yards or less in nine of his carries. Garcia finished with 46 yards in 10 carries.

“We stuffed the gaps on them,” said Darrin Bourgeois, an El Camino Real defensive tackle. “We know they work on deception and sometimes you can’t see who has the ball. But we saw the [double-wing] last year against North Hollywood and we did our homework.”

A 26-yard field goal by Conor Jackson midway through the second quarter provided the game-winning margin. From there, Wright padded the lead and provided highlights with breakaway runs.

Late in the second quarter, Wright took a handoff, appeared to be stopped at the line, then broke free for a 63-yard run that gave El Camino Real a 15-6 halftime lead.

Wright ran 26 yards for a score on the Conquistadores’ first possession of the third quarter and ran for a two-point conversion to extend the lead, 23-6.

El Camino Real made it 31-6 on its next possession--a two-play drive in which Wright ran for 22 yards, then raced 57 yards for a score.

“They are a powerful running team,” said Sloan Bunting, Monroe’s coach. “We lost momentum and our defense wasn’t tackling.”