Tesoro Puts Halt To Bishop Amat Win Streak

LA PUENTE (CBS) - There are only four teams in each division that officially receive a seed in the CIF Playoff Brackets.  CIF thought highly enough of Bishop Amat and the Serra League to give the Lancers one of the top four seeds in the PAC-5 even though the Lancers did not win their league. 
 
The march to a CIF title was supposed to be favorable.  The Lancers were awarded the 4th seed in the PAC-5.  They had a playoff game at home, a place they hadn't loss since 2007.  But, then again, nothing is easy when it comes to the PAC-5. 
 
Tesoro ended Bishop Amat's 17-game home winning streak with a 31-21 first round win on Friday.  When they needed it the most, the Titans forced four second-half turnovers.  Tesoro defensive back, Kyle Woodbright, came up with a fumble recovery and an interception in the final frame to seal the deal for the Titans.  Its the first playoff win for Tesoro and head coach Brian Barnes since their CIF Semifinal win in 2008, after missing the playoffs last season. 
 
It was a night to forget for Bishop Amat quarterback Rio Ruiz.  The junior committed four turnovers on the night, all in the second half.  He lost two fumbles, including one on the doorstep, that led to a Tesoro 99-yard drive.  That drive was capped by a Matt Adam 21-yard touchdown pass to Woodbright to get Tesoro a 21-14 lead in the third quarter. 
 
The Titans jumped on the Lancers early, taking a 14-0 lead in the 1st quarter.  Their second touchdown was set up by a failed fake punt attempt by Amat wide receiver/punter Wallace Gonzalez.
 
The Lancers stormed back with 14 second quarter points, both touchdown passes by Ruiz.  One to Adam Sancez and the other to Sal Velasquez.  The game was tied 14-14 at intermission. 
 
Amat drove on their first possession of the second half, only to have the drive come to a halt after the Ruiz fumble at the Tesoro one-yard line. 
 
Bishop Amat running back Jalen Moore was quiet on the night with just 25 total rush yards.  12 of those yards came on a third quarter touchdown run to tie the game 21-21.  But the game got away from the Lancers in the fourth quarter. 
 
Ruiz was picked off by Tesoro linebacker Blake Rodgers after he threw the ball up for grabs trying to avoid a sack.  Rodgers then scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 2-yard run to put the Titans ahead 28-21. 
 
The next Lancers possession ended in a Ruiz fumble that was scooped by Woodbright.  Tesoro converted that into a Gabe Sciolla 40-yard field goal making it a two-possession game with 2:54 left in the contest.  Ruiz was picked off for a second time in the quarter by Woodbright as the Lancers tried to cut into the 10-point deficit. 
 
Bishop Amat (9-2) never led.  After starting the season 9-0 heading into their bye week, the Lancers lost two in a row to end the season.  "After the bye, I think our last two games might have been the worst two of the year, so its a terrible way to end [the season]" says Bishop Amat head coach Steve Hagerty.   Its his first home loss as the head coach of the Lancers. 
 
Tesoro (8-3) advances to face Mater Dei in the next round.