Schurr Dominates San Gabriel, Handing Matadors First Loss

The Schurr Spartans showcased their prowess as the defending champions of the Almont League, delivering a decisive 55-14 victory over the previously undefeated San Gabriel Matadors on October 3, 2025. This league opener highlighted Schurr’s strength, particularly following a challenging pre-league schedule that included several losses.

Schurr running back Mateo Carrasco was a standout performer, rushing for an impressive 235 yards and scoring one touchdown. His teammate, Tyler Higashi, contributed significantly as well, with three rushing touchdowns. Schurr head coach Austin Montoya praised the duo, referring to them as a “two-headed monster” due to their contrasting styles. “One runs super hard while the other has speed and elusiveness. They’re a nice balance,” Montoya remarked.

San Gabriel started the game strong, taking an early lead with a two-yard touchdown reception from Jahkai Lowe, making the score 7-0. Schurr quickly responded with Carrasco’s spectacular 87-yard touchdown run, followed by a 32-yard touchdown catch by Nathaniel Cota, giving the Spartans a 13-7 advantage. The Matadors briefly regained the lead at 14-13 after Lowe caught an 89-yard touchdown pass, but that would be their last moment in front.

The Spartans took control after Schurr quarterback Jacob Torres scored on a two-yard run. He later connected with Louie Navarro for a seven-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 26-14. Schurr’s scoring surge continued in the second half, with Torres delivering a nine-yard touchdown pass to Higashi, and later a 34-yard touchdown pass to Alberto Chavez, pushing the score to 40-14.

The game worsened for San Gabriel when quarterback Ricky Garcia was injured after throwing an interception that resulted in a touchdown for Schurr. Coach Ray Torres provided an update on Garcia’s condition, stating, “He has a little stinger but he will be back on Monday.”

Despite the loss, Torres remained optimistic about his team’s future. “I’m not worried about it to be honest. This is the first loss of the season and they are a great team,” he said. “We had a lot of missed opportunities where we didn’t execute, and they were able to take advantage. This is one game and it’s not gonna be much.”

Carrasco reflected on the game, emphasizing its importance for team morale. “It’s a big win, it helps us gain momentum and open up our playbook,” he stated. “It feels great coming out and having everyone here hyping us up, it’s a great feeling to be out here.”

As the season progresses, Schurr’s victory over San Gabriel sets the tone for what could be another successful campaign in the Almont League, while the Matadors will look to regroup and learn from this experience.