Led by junior Tyler Kelly’s four touchdowns, Mingus Union High School easily took down Flagstaff High School, 49-14, in the Walkup Skydome on the campus of Northern Arizona University Friday, Oct. 14.
The win improved the Marauders’ record to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the Grand Canyon Region, where the trail only Bradshaw Mountain High School, which is 4-0.
The Flagstaff game was similar to last year when Mingus ran out to a big lead before the Eagles even got on the board. The Mauraders were up 28-0 heading into the fourth quarter last year.
This year, they led 28-0 before Flagstaff scored its first touchdown with 39 seconds left in the third quarter.
Mingus got off to a fast start, taking the game’s opening kickoff and driving 75 yards in seven plays for a 7-0 lead.
Senior running back Jason Groth carried the ball on six of those plays, gaining 65 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown.
He would carry the ball just two more times in the game before leaving with an injury.
His absence would have little effect on the Marauders vaunted ground game, as senior Juan Ruiz and an array of others would pick up the slack.
Neither offense could reach the red zone for most of the first quarter. However, after Mingus turned the ball over on downs at the Flagstaff 30-yard line, the Eagles suffered a meltdown and it cost them.
They moved the ball to the Mingus 48, but a holding call pushed them back to their side of the field.On the next play, they were called for an illegal block and a taunting penalty, pushing them all the way back to their own 13. Then a bad connection on an attempted pitch to the running back led to a fumble that rolled into the end zone where it was recovered for a touchdown by MUHS senior Trevor Galloway. Mingus took a 14-0 lead with about a minute left in the first quarter.
It didn’t take long for the Marauders to revisit the end zone thanks to another turnover.
Senior Trey Meyer put the kickoff into the end zone — which he did throughout the game, as well as once again converting all the extra points he attempted — Flagstaff took over on its 20-yard line.
After a running play lost three yards, the Eagles fumbled on the following play. It was recovered on the 17 by senior Alejandro Stabreff.
A couple of short runs followed by a holding penalty put the Marauders at the Flagstaff 15, but Kelly took a pitch from Meyer and ran it in for the score and a 21-0 lead with 11:07 left in the second quarter.
The Eagles were unable to sustain their next drive and punted to the Mingus 12.
From there, the Marauders embarked on a marathon drive, going 88 yards on 16 plays — including converting on a fourth down and three yards to to. It was capped by Kelly’s two-yard touchdown run, which boosted the Mingus lead to 28-0 with 1:27 left in the first half.
The drive featured a steady dose of Ruiz, who carried the ball eight times. For the game, he ran 18 times for 112 yards.
Kicking off to open the second half, the Marauders executed a successful onside kick, but were unable to capitalize on it as Meyer came up just short on a 55-yard field goal attempt.
Flagstaff took over on their own 20 and moved the ball 22 yards on three plays, but a Stabreff sack set them back 11 yards and they would eventually have to punt.
Mingus, however, went three and out.
The Eagles took over on their own 25 and finally were able to put points on the board. The 12-play drive featured a couple of pass completions mixed with several successful runs and two key Mingus penalties. It was capped by a four-yard touchdown run, making the score 28-7 with 39 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Marauders responded quickly. After sophomore Alex Nelson nearly broke free on the kickoff return, they took over on their 39. It took four plays, including a pair of Ruiz runs for nine and 12 yards, to score.
Kelly was wide open along the sideline and Meyer hit him in stride for a 36-yard touchdown and a 35-7 lead. It was Meyer’s only completion out of seven attempts in the game.
Flagstaff followed with a lightning-fast score, going 80 yards in three plays, including a 56-yard touchdown pass to make the score 35-14 with 10:37 left in the game.
Again, Mingus responded. The Marauders went 79 yards on three Ruiz runs, one Stabreff run that resulted in two penalties against the Eagles — a horse-collar tackle and unsportsmanlike conduct — and a six-yard touchdown run by Meyer for a 42-14 lead.
Sophomore Chaz Taylor, who stepped in for Meyer after Mingus had the game locked away, completed his only pass, a 44-yard strike to Kelly to close out the scoring with 4:02 left in the game.
Kelly, in addition to his four touchdowns, led the Marauders in total yards with 115.
As a team, the Marauders ran the ball 50 times for 324 yards. Eight different players carried the ball.
Next up for Mingus in a home game against Coconino High School, Friday, Oct. 21, followed by its regular season finale at Sunrise Mountain High School in Peoria, Friday, Oct. 28.
