Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Jaguars have one in the victory column

Sanchez's score leads to first varsity win

Jason W. Brooks News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jbrooks@news-bulletin.com

Tomé Not every football team would be excited about being 1-7, but for the Valencia Jaguars, that one win means both momentum and something historic.

An 11-yard sweep by Jake Sanchez with 18.7 seconds left in Friday's home game against Grants gave the Jaguars their first-ever varsity win, 21-14. Valencia hosts Del Norte this Friday at 7 p.m. in the District 5-4A opener for both teams and the Jaguars' final home game of 2008.

"It's a great feeling to know I came through for my team," said Sanchez. "When the play was first called at the line, I was nervous, because their defensive ends and corners are quick."

Sanchez, who also scored on a short second-quarter run, was playing offense for the first time, having been merely one of the Jaguars' starting cornerbacks before Friday. The first-year varsity of Valencia will now host its first district game, having beaten a Grants team (2-5) that moved the ball well in the third quarter.

Unfortunately, only about 100 Valencia fans and 25 to 30 Grants fans showed up to see the exciting contest.

"We always seem to have one bad quarter, and tonight, we moved it from the second to the third," joked VHS coach Ed Johnson. "I hope we move forward from this win with confidence, and get rid of that bad quarter altogether."

The Jaguars looked as confident in the first half as they have at any point in their inaugural season. After both teams started with poor field position on their first couple of possessions, Robbie Carrasco set up Sanchez's score with a 41-yard punt return down the left side.

The Jaguars have struggled to convert on third and fourth down in their first season, but a big play later in the second quarter might be a sign that trend is turning around.

Quarterback Orey Feerer completed a 3rd-and-9 pass over the middle to Braden Gault at the Grants 4-yard line, and Curtis Peralta plowed in on the next play.

In the third quarter, however, Grants made some adjustments. The Pirates used some screen passes and had more success running up the middle.

One of those screen passes resulted in a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Charles Miller to big fullback Brandon Rael. Miller scored on a keeper later in the quarter and completed a two-point conversion pass to Dominic Sanchez to tie the game 14-14.

The Jaguars thwarted three fourth-quarter Grants drives in Valencia territory. A Pirate fumble, an interception by Carrasco and stopping the Pirates on downs kept the score tied.

One key play on the game-winning drive was a 14-yard scramble by Feerer. Ten yards were tacked on to the run after a Grants defender swung Feerer around after the whistle had blown, moving the ball to the Pirate 11.

Sanchez, who scored on the next play, led the Jags with 57 rushing yards on 14 carries. His playing time and that of a few others was at the expense of regular starters as Johnson shuffled his lineup.

The coach explained the game-long benching of starters Alfredo Rendon and Jacob Jackson as "an internal thing that we're doing."

Del Norte at Valencia

Friday, 7 p.m.

Del Norte is coming off a 42-7 thrashing Friday of another first-year varsity program, Volcano Vista, in which the 4-4 Knights moved the ball almost at will. While Del Norte looked undersized and outmanned early in the season, the Knights have improved, led by veteran quarterback Cody Blocker and running back Malachi Johnson.

Blocker had an 80-yard run for a score in the contest, and his ability to complete short passes has kept the Knights in games. Del Norte and Valencia had only had one common opponent, Los Lunas, which beat VHS 27-8 and the Knights 28-6.

Against Los Lunas, Del Norte started in a hole early, going three-and-out and spotting the Tigers a 21-0 lead. The Knights had some promising drives but couldn't finish those, and the defense started many possessions with a short field.

Los Lunas and a few other Del Norte opponents have been able to run the ball up the middle. VHS coach Ed Johnson said the Jaguars will bring plenty of things to Friday's game, including at least a few plays out of the swinging gate offense.

"That's part of the package," said Johnson of the seldom-used formation. "We've gotten some yards out of it. If teams don't defend it right, they'll pay the price."

The Jaguars' record means they'll probably have to beat both Del Norte and Moriarty on Oct. 31 to make the playoffs, as only district champions will automatically qualify for the postseason this year. There are only three teams in 5-4A this year for football.

The Jaguars are also one of the Valencia programs dealing with not having a certified athletic trainer, as Rikki Rice recently resigned her position. Johnson said all of his coaches are trainers to an extent and assistant Mike Carroll is a registered nurse.

"The district (Los Lunas Schools) is working very hard to find a replacement," said Johnson.

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