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 Homecoming ’2012: Bobcats ravage Panthers
9/24/2012 By: Joel Priest
IHS senior Michelle Simmons was declared Homecoming Queen at halftime of last Saturday's non-conference football game between the Bobcats and Montezuma-Cortez JV, won by Ignacio 49-26. With her are 1st Attendant Mary Kate Adams (left) and 2nd Attendant Destinee Lucero (right). Photo by Joel Priest.
Bobcats' first win of season precedes key conference game
As far as ascending to ‘royalty’ in 2012, His Highness’ reign won’t last any longer—except in his long-term memory—than any of his many, many annual predecessors at IHS.
For no sooner than receiving his proverbial crown last Saturday afternoon, Andrew Guire returned to his people and wasted almost no time—just twelve seconds, in fact—ushering in a half of defensive prosperity despite the outsiders’ best attempts at invading the realm.
“Just a lot of heart,” explained the senior lineman, who recovered a Montezuma-Cortez JV fumble on the guests’ second play of the third quarter, and then another three minutes later to help motivate the Bobcats’ defense in a 49-26 conquest. “And our pride for the school; we wanted to do good for Ignacio.”
“I was just happy to have people come and support us,” echoed classmate Austin Haire, himself a member of the King’s court. “We haven’t been doing too great, but a victory’s a victory!”
“Well they were distracted, wondering if we could do certain things earlier so they could do their things,” head coach Lupe Huerta said regarding the buildup through Homecoming Week. “And I told them I’m concerned about the football—the extra stuff you do when you have time. They had to make some choices—and they weren’t happy—but this is what we’re here for though.”
Oddly, neither of Guire’s gains led to points on the IHS Field scoreboard; quarterback Adison Jones was intercepted four plays after the first, and the ’Cats then relinquished the ball on downs 17 plays—and 55 yards in 6:38 of clock time—after the second. But both takeaways, most importantly, kept M-CHS’ offense—which had tied the score at 6-6 late in the first quarter (via a 13-play, 85-yard march in 5:41), then trimmed an Ignacio lead to 14-12 early in the second—off the field.
Big freshman running back David Skaggs (12-126, 3 TD) plowed through for a 39-yard touchdown on the first snap after the interception, and a deflected Jones pass was then plucked and returned to the IHS 8 just two plays later—before Guire smothered a Skaggs drop only two plays thereafter.
Returning to his first-half rhythm, Jones—who started the game 6-of-6 for 96 yards (with a 23-yard TD to Nick Herrera)—then went aerial to convincingly punish the 3A Panthers. Starting at his own 38 with just 0:51 left in the third, the sophomore struck for 61 yards on two tosses to Herrera and one to Haire before time expired, enabling Haire (21-143, 3 TD) to score from six yards out with 10:54 left in the game.
Junior Clayton Jefferson then intercepted M-CHS backup QB Noah Galyon in the end zone with 7:27 to go, and Jones then let fly an 80-yard TD to Sam Corrado on first down as a follow-up. Offsetting penalties against each side canceled the score, but no matter—the Bobcat coaches simply reversed the formation and, with 6:59 left, Jefferson (3 rec., 97 yds.) made the catch along the left sideline for the six.
“We’re a tough team to beat when our receivers are doing their job—running their routes perfect,” said defensive back Chase Sanchez, who then kept the crowd roaring with a vicious solo stop of a Panther receiver for a five-yard loss two snaps later.
“We have a great quarterback,” Haire said of Jones, who finished with 357 yards on 21-of-34 accuracy, with two TD’s and two INT’s, “some great receivers; I’m glad we’re finally starting to develop.”
Jones (7-19 rushing) also scored twice on the ground—the first (with a Haire two-point conversion) putting Ignacio ahead 30-12 with 2:03 before halftime’s coronations, and the second (with a Kelton Richmond PAT kick) upping the lead to 49-18 with 2:07 before the FFA club’s Rocky Mountain Oyster/Catfish Fundraiser Dinner after the closing buzzer.
Herrera led all Bobcat receivers with 179 yards on seven grabs, with Antonio Torres earning 20 on three, Corrado 17 on three, Haire 22 on two, and Richmond (1-of-3 in the PAT department) 21 on two.
“At the end I wanted to ‘introduce’ myself, because I had no idea where these kids came from!” joked Huerta about the team’s production. “I wanted to thank them for coming to play that second half!”
The Panthers did manage to put a small damper on the day, with re-inserted starting QB Cordell Ridings throwing for a 71-yard score (Skaggs ran in the two-pointer) down the sideline in full view of the locals with 0:27 left—confirming IHS’ concerns for tonight’s 1A Southern Peaks opener at Monte Vista.
“We just need to work on tackling—still—same as a couple weeks ago,” said Sanchez. “And be ready for Monte because they’re going to be a hard opponent.”
“With what we did today…if we can add to that and improve on that, I think we have a good chance,” Huerta said. “They’re good, always have been, and just seem to have those speedy kids—so I would say it would be an upset if we beat them. But our kids are capable of doing it if we get all our guns firing, put it all together.”
The ’Cats stand 1-3, and the Pirates 3-1 after a 48-20 loss to heavyweights Hotchkiss last Friday.
“We just need to keep it rolling,” said Guire, issuing his first ‘royal’ edict, “and keep hitting!”
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