Early in the season South El Monte footbal coach Frank Gallardo, who has been at the helm since 2015, approached principal Dr. Jorge Morales, and told him this would be his final year with the Eagles.

He wasn’t sure he had the fire in his belly to keep going.

When Eagles quarterback Michael Maldonado threw a game winning pass in overtime to beat Mission League rival Arroyo, 35-28 , back on Sept. 26, Maldonado was choked up afterward explaining how much he wanted to win for his coach.

“This is for coach Gallardo,” Maldonado said after the Arroyo win. “He’s been my favorite coach since I was a kid. I love him like my dad. This means everything. This could be our coach’s final year and we’re trying to make a final run for him.”

Gallardo had no idea the final run would come with South El

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