Wright’s Opening-Kickoff Return Helps El Camino Real Feel at Home
WOODLAND HILLS — El Camino Real High students jammed the home bleachers for the Conquistadores’ first football game on campus this decade. They just needed something to cheer about.
Quincy Wright gave it to them.
The junior running back returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, and Aaron Fredette threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as El Camino Real cruised to a 38-16 victory over San Fernando in a Northwest Valley Conference game Friday afternoon.
It was the first varsity game at El Camino Real since a 27-7 loss to Westchester in 1989, and the eighth in the history of the school, which opened in 1969.
The crowd, energized by Wright’s heroics, buoyed the efforts of the Conquistadores, who played their best game of the year.
“[The crowd] really helped us,†said senior defensive back Jay Kos. “We were excited to play here. No more long bus rides.â€
After San Fernando punted on its first possession, Fredette capped a 12-play drive with a nine-yard touchdown run, giving El Camino Real (4-2, 2-1 in the conference) a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
On the Tigers’ next possession, quarterback Terrell Stanley escaped a heavy rush on fourth-and-goal and found Major Caldwell alone in the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 14-8.
But Fredette threw touchdown passes of 67 and 11 yards to Adebola Jimoh, and 19 yards to Wright in the next two quarters, staking the Conquistadores to a 32-8 lead.
Fredette completed 11 of 15 passes for 158 yards, and rushed for 63 yards in 11 carries.
San Fernando (2-4, 1-2) held Wright, the Conquistadores’ leading rusher, to 56 yards in 13 carries but he scored on a four-yard run midway through the fourth quarter.
El Camino Real’s offense ran smoothly despite the absence of running back J.D. Sumlin, who missed his second consecutive game with an ankle injury.
San Fernando running back Mike Gomez gained 62 yards in 15 carries and scored on an eight-yard run.
El Camino Real will play its first-ever home night game when temporary lights are installed for the Nov. 8 homecoming against Cleveland.
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
