MFL: UNBEATEN WARRIORS BLANK KNIGHTS

By Robert Balajadia

The Pepsi Warriors continued their dominance in the Miller Football League by blanking the shorthanded DLX Knights 34-0 at the Hal Shiroma Field Friday night.

Pepsi improves to a league best 5-0 while the Knights drop to 1-4.

The Warriors asserted themselves from their opening series drawing costly penalties on the Knights on third and fourth down plays that set up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Danny Manibusan to his favorite target Alejo Lujan that quickly put the Warriors up 8-0 after a Hosea Ware two-point conversion.

Points Off Turnovers

Warriors’ defensive back Sandy Fejeran came up with a big defensive stop picking off Knights quarterback Joseph Terlaje, who was starting in place of the injured Cory Chin.

Fejeran’s interception allowed Manibusan and Lujan to hook up for the pairs second touchdown pushing the score 14-0.

The Knights’ next drive didn’t end well as the Warrior defense forced another turnover as JoJohn Quinata stripped the ball from Knights Terlaje which prompted the Warriors to pounce on the ball for the recovery at the Knights’ 35-yard line.

Pepsi Warriors Hosea Ware sprints free for a big first down in the first half.(photo by Asha Robles)

Pepsi turned the second consecutive turnover by the Knights into more points after a short yardage touchdown from Josea Ware which was set up by a long conversion from Jacob Torres after using a series of juke moves to get open for the big gain.

Right before the half, Quinata helped force another turnover as linebacker Justin Andre recovered it once near mid field taking it to the house to go up 27-0.

The opening kick-off didn’t bode well for the Knights either as the Warriors recovered their own kick deep in the Knights territory as none of the Knights managed to retrieve the kick.

Manibusan and Lujan connected for the games final touchdown in the third quarter from 17 yards out to go up 34-0.

Warriors defensive back Chris Santos picked off Terlaje in the fourth quarter which allowed the Warriors to run the clock down on offense.

The IP&E Angels and Cars Plus Rams will square off on Sunday as the MFL weekend continues.

PHOTO GALLERY

Warriors linebacker JoJohn Quinata rips the ball away from Knights’ quarterback Joseph Terlaje. (photo by Asha Robles)

Knights’ quarterback Joseph Terlaje looks from running room.(photo by Asha Robles)

Warriors Alejo Lujan grabs a touchdown over the Knights secondary. (photo by Asha Robles)

Warriors’ Keanu Lujan bounces to the outside. (photo by Asha Robles)

Knights running back Emanuel Withers receives the handoff. (photo by Asha Robles)

Warriors Hosea Ware gets brought down by the Knights’ defense. (photo by Asha Robles)

(photo by Asha Robles)

Warriors quarterback Danny Manibusan tosses a deep pass. (photo by Asha Robles)