TUSTIN – El Dorado football coach Zach La Monda was asked before the Golden Hawks played Foothill to list all of the injuries to starters on his team.
It was a long answer.
The Golden Hawks managed to play one of their best games of the season in a 41-19 win over Foothill at Tustin High on Thursday in the final nonleague game for both teams.
El Dorado junior running back J.P. Murray rushed for 128 yards and four touchdowns. He scored on runs of 4 and 13 yards in the first half and of 1 and 40 yards in the second half. Golden Hawks senior quarterback Nate Bento passed for 166 yards and rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown.
Foothill quarterback Nicholas Miali threw two touchdown passes to Jack Zerkel.
The Golden Hawks had lost their previous two games, including a one-point loss to Chino and last week’s 35-7 loss to Villa Park. Their defense was giving up 32 points a game. And El Dorado’s first possession Thursday was a disaster.
Still, the Golden Hawks were the more physical and tenacious team for 90 percent of Thursday’s game.
“We’re just resilient, coming back with all these starters being injured,” Bento said, “and keeping a good mentality is important going into league.”
El Dorado (3-4) plays its first North Hills League game of the season next Friday against Canyon at Valencia High, El Dorado’s home field. Foothill (4-3) plays its Crestview League opener next Thursday. The Knights play Villa Park, undefeated going into this week, at El Modena High.
Foothill is No. 19 in the Orange County top 25. El Dorado was in the lower portion of the top 25 early in the season but dropped out of it a few weeks ago.
El Dorado QB Nate Bento passed for 166 yards and rushed for 140 yards and a TD in a 41-13 win over Foothill … pic.twitter.com/fPkFFhiTRq
— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) October 6, 2023
La Monda was impressed by the fight he saw in the Golden Hawks players.
“We’ve had a long grind this season,” he said. “Dealing with some…
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