Buena Park’s Khalil Blanton (2) is pulled down by Baldwin Park defenders Jorge Lizarraga (17) and Benny Ramos (22) after a long gain on a pass from Bryan Arambull on a drive that led to the Coyotes’ second TD. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone)
In a game of inches, Buena Park’s football team came up on the short end of the stick Thursday night in its continuing quest to win a game in its new football stadium.
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After losing their opener last week on a last-minute touchdown, the Coyotes saw visiting Baldwin Park (2-0) score twice in the fourth quarter to prevail 18-12.
The teams traded first-quarter touchdowns and then spent much of the rest of the evening struggling in a mistake and penalty filled clash before Buena Park appeared to score a go-ahead score with a minute left in the half when Khalil Blanton made a leaping catch of a Bryan Arambul pass in the corner of the end zone.
An official ruled, however, Blanton’s toe was on the out of bounds line when he came down with the ball and the pass was incomplete.
The teams played a scoreless third and entered the fourth quarter still tied at 6. With about eight minutes remaining in the game Baldwin Park began the drive that would lead to its second touchdown.
The march seemed to be stalled at the Buena Park 45 but on fourth and 14, the Braves got 14 yards and two inches when Joshua Rocha made a leaping catch of a Brian Anguiano pass.
Moments later Buena Park appeared to have thwarted the drive with a Blanton interception, but that play was negated by a pass interference call and Jimmy Ramos eventually scored with 4:59 to play on a short run.
Things then got worse for the Coyotes who got little out of their next three plays and then had their punt blocked and returned a short distance for a score by Baldwin Park’s Benny Ramos.
Trailing 18-6 with three minutes left the an energized Buena Park offense moved the length of the field in little more than a minute on a series of passes from Arambul to Blanton, including a short toss for a TD with 2:21 to play. The critical ensuing PAT attempt hit the left upright.
The Coyotes had one final, short-lived, shot at a victory when their short kickoff, caromed off two Baldwin Park players, but the Braves were able to recover the ball and run out the clock.
Buena Park played the game without standout safety Angel Guajardo, who is out indefinitely after injuring a knee in practice Monday.
–Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone
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