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Malachi Alatorre, who led Western in rushing, celebrates near the end of the game Friday night. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).
Regardless of past success, when you’re bulldozed in the first game of the season, it’s going to take a while for your psyche to heal.
That was the reality for Western High School’s football team Friday night.
The Pioneers, overwhelmed by Los Alamitos a week ago, seemed unsettled through two-plus quarters at La Mirada before finding their mojo midway through the third quarter and running away to a 42-7 victory.
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“We were more quiet than usual in the locker room before the game,” Western Coach Dan Davidson said, “and we had some mistakes, dropped passes in the first half that, in retrospect, were helpful because they remind us that we have things to work on.”
La Mirada was playing on its campus for the first time since 2018 in a new stadium that drew rave reviews from everyone, including the referees, in attendance. Western scored first, on its opening drive, then labored, depending on its defense to protect a 14-7 lead well into the third quarter before the offense finally got untracked.
Quarterback Noah Gidden completed 21 of 38 passes most of them going to JJ Amezcua, who had 13 receptions for 191 yards. Malachi Alatorre led the running game with 85 rugged yards in 17 carries.
The Pioneers are on the road for the third week in a row Friday, playing at El Toro.
—Courtesy Jim McCormack for OC Sports Zone
