With a game against Castle Park for the South Bay League championship looming next week, Alcala admitted his team overlooked a 1-8 Mar Vista squad.

“It was one of the worst games we have played all year,” Alcala said. “I think they were focused more on the game next week against Castle Park instead of the game tonight.”

Despite the Aztecs' poor play, they were able to pull out a 28-14 victory against the Mariners last night.

Montgomery compiled nine penalties, gave up more than 100 yards rushing in the first half and went into halftime tied 14-14.

“We all thought we were going to come here and beat this team, and obviously it wasn't that great of a beating,” Aztecs running back Diego Rodriguez said. “Our team needs to step it up and know that we can't take any team lightly.”

Rodriguez was Montgomery's only source of offense all night. The sophomore tallied 224 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. But even with Rodriguez's outburst, the offense struggled to produce. Quarterback Melvin Bobadilla completed seven of his 14 pass attempts for 72 yards and two interceptions.

“Our team should have had way more yards than usual,” said Rodriguez, who had a 19-yard touchdown called back in the first quarter because of a holding penalty. “We just have to have less mistakes.”

After the game, Alcala chastised his players in a postgame huddle telling them they could not afford to play the same way against the Trojans next week. Montgomery had three turnovers and gave up touchdown plays of 63 and 47 yards to a Mar Vista team that had just one victory in league play this season.

“I'm glad we were able to pull out the win, but it's definitely not the way we should have played,” Alcala said. “We haven't been in a situation at Montgomery where we could play for an outright league title ever in the history of our school, and our guys knew that.”

Castle Park (6-3, 5-0) and Montgomery (5-4, 5-0) will meet on Friday. Alcala said the Aztecs already have a banner they will hang in their gymnasium if they can pull out the victory.

“We made a banner so people can focus,” Alcala said. “We're going to do everything within our power as coaches to get our guys in the right position and I believe our guys are going to be ready.”