The562’s football coverage for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Long Beach Poly alums Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
St. Anthony found its first win of the season on Friday, relying on its rushing attack in a wire-to-wire 30-23 victory over Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary.
The St. Anthony run game, led by 6-foot-2, 220 lb running back Elijah Cooper, ran for four total touchdowns on Friday from three different players. Cooper found the endzone on two different occasions, while Majesty Aupiu and Preston Hochman each had a touchdown rush.
The Cardinals struck first on a four-yard touchdown from quarterback Matthew Escobedo to Adrian Viera, before a 17-yard touchdown rush from Aupiu to tie the game at the end of the opening quarter.
After a 42-yard field goal from Cantwell-Sacred Heart, the Saints took the lead on a 27-yard rushing touchdown from Cooper with 1:13 till half. The Saints then forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, before a quick drive ending in a 15-yard touchdown from Hochman.
The Cardinals were able to tack on one last score with time running out in the half on another strike from Escobedo to Viera. The Saints still led going into the half 20-16.
After going with an onside kick to open the half, Cantwell-Sacred Heart found yet another strike from Escobedo to Viera, their third connection of the night. The touchdown put the Cardinals in front 23-20 to open the half.
The St. Anthony defense held the Cardinals off for the rest of the half, and took the lead on a two-yard touchdown rush by Cooper. The Saints tacked on a 32-yard field goal by Troy Novoa to go up 30-23, a lead they’d hold onto for the rest of the game.
