Sometimes, it’s just a couple of plays that make all of the difference.
Mingus Union High School football (2-7) dropped its fifth-consecutive game and remained winless in the Arizona Interscholastic Association 4A Grand Canyon region (0-4) when mistakes just before and after halftime separated the Lee Williams Volunteers from the Marauders in a 49-31 final.
The teams went blow-for-blow throughout the first half. Down just 1 with 55 seconds remaining in the second quarter, the Marauders successfully attempted a 21-yard field goal, opting not to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the four yard line. The 23-21 lead would be the final lead for the Marauders in the game.
Using just 34 seconds of game clock, the Vols stormed down the field and punished the Marauders with a 31-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Deveon Santos to give Lee Williams a 28-23 halftime lead. The Vols began the second half with the ball and in a four-minute drive, took a two possession lead with a Santos 29-yard rushing TD.
“We knew that they were a throwing team and I believe that it was 52 seconds that it took them to score,” said Mingus head coach Dave Moncibaez. “That took some wind out of our sails but they stayed motivated in the fourth quarter. Truly, we saw light and a spark. I’m proud of the kids and not giving up for sure, but it did sting a little bit, them coming out opening drive and taking it to us right then and there. I think it did take some momentum away from us.”
The Lee Williams passing attack didn’t slow down through the end of the game, and a banged up Mingus offense simply couldn’t keep up.
“It wasn’t them, it was mental mistakes from us,” said senior running back and strong safety Hunter Perkins. “We just did not follow our coaching. Linebackers, D-line and even secondary, we just were not containing the QB like we had been practicing all week because we knew he was good with his legs, and he just got us.”
In what was a brutal game physically, the Marauders had several key contributors hobbled, including star senior running back Angelo Alvarez. Alvarez scored the first touchdown of the game on a 4-yard TD rush on the game’s opening drive, but was injured diving into the endzone on the play. While he was in-and-out of the game throughout the night, the senior’s ankle showed severe swelling after the game, though he says he should be all right moving forward.
“I’m glad that we got a bye week this week so that I can definitely heal up and be better for Prescott,” Alvarez said. “It’s just bad that, in the very first quarter I had to come out because of my ankle issues and what not but I was proud that I could still connect with the team and still help everyone out how I could.”
Even on a hobbled ankle, Alvarez still racked up over 100 yards throughout the night. In all, he totaled 110 yards and two TD’s between trips to the athletic trainer’s table for regular ankle tapings.
“It was my quarterback [senior Zachary Harrison] forcing me to go out there and play,” Alvarez laughed. “He told me I’m not allowed to go out so I knew I had to stay in the entire game and do what I had to do to help out the team the most I could and give us the opportunity. It sucks just letting down the team and not being able to contribute the way I should have.”
When Alvarez was unable to go, Hunter Perkins picked up the slack.
Midway through the second quarter, Alvarez was on the field for a kickoff return. While waiting for the kick, he tested his ankle and decided it was too tender to go. Alvarez then waved Perkins onto the field, who no more than 10 seconds later took the kick 94 yards back for a TD.
“Angelo’s a great athlete, and I’m a pretty good athlete,” Perkins said. “I caught it, I saw the middle and I just took off.”
Alvarez knew there would be no drop off in play when Perkins took the field.
“He brings a lot of intensity and a lot of energy for sure,” Alvarez said. “He’s definitely one of our biggest hype men that we have on the team and it’s good to see him out there because he’s a good ball player. He knows his holes, he knows how to do his thing. He’s a great athlete all around, he’s a great kid and I know that if I need someone to be put in my position I’m going to go for him because he’ll get the job done.”
Marauders QB Zach Harrison saw one of his strongest performances of the year, despite taking some big hits himself.
He completed 14-of-28 passes for 194 yards, while adding a touchdown on a QB sneak. It was a solid rebound performance for Harrison, who had struggled in the Marauders’ last few games.
“He’s making good decisions, he’s airing the ball out, he’s playing with confidence,” Moncibaez said. “So I’m really proud of him and his decision making today, just wish we could get him and the team some victories.”
With the Marauders looking for another victory, there’s just one more opportunity. The Mingus Union Marauders will host rival Prescott High School (6-2) on Friday, Nov. 12 after a bye week for senior night. The game will begin at 7 p.m.
