Second-quarter surge sinks Stallions
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Madera South’s Marcus Castaneda reaches over the goal line to score a second quarter touchdown during Friday’s 54-7 loss to the Bullard Knights.
The Madera South Stallions football team fought hard, but couldn’t slow down the Bullard-Fresno Knights’ running game after a 29-point quarter pushed the game out of reach, 54-7, at Lee DaSilva field.
“I like certain things we did, but we don’t know how to finish,” head coach Matt Johnson said of Friday’s loss. “We’re not ready for this level of competition, quite honestly, and when you keep getting beat down and beat down, at what point is enough, enough.”
In terms of “now” focus shifts to its next door neighbors, Madera High in the Stadium Road Showdown on Nov. 3.
“We know we got one big game in the future and that’s the cross-town game and we’re going to be ready to play,” Johnson said.
However, the Stallions have the Edison-Fresno Tigers on the schedule Friday night.
Coming off a win last week against the Madera Coyotes, the Bullard Knights returned to familiar confines and put together a big point second quarter to put away the Stallions.
Marcus Fulcher led the way for the Knights with three touchdowns. He finished the game with more than 130 yards rushing with his 15 carries. Fulcher was replaced in the second half and the Knights didn’t miss a beat.
The Knights capitalized on tough running to move the chains and by the end of the second quarter, the game was out of reach.
The Stallions and Bullard battled back and forth in the early stages of the game. The Knights scratched first with a two-yard touchdown run by Fulcher. He made it six touchdowns in two games after his player of the game performance against the Coyotes, where he scored three touchdowns.
The Stallions showed promise early with a drive that lasted over 10 plays, culminating in Madera South’s lone touchdown of the night.
Down to their third-string quarterback, the Stallions implemented a heavy run game led by their quarterback Matt Manoz, who showcased his dual-threat ability with throws down the field and on quarterback keepers.
Although the Knights defense is predicated on tough hitting, the Stallions offensive line had their chances to move the ball.
The Stallions answered with their lone score in the second quarter with an 11-play drive. Manoz and Matthew Posas led the charge running the ball back and forth.
Posas carried the brunt of the load with five tough carries. He hammered the Knights defensive line, which picked up key yards including a fourth down run to continue the drive.
Manoz took care of the rest with a run of 13 yards before firing a strike to Marcus Castenada for a 30-yard touchdown.
The Stallions fought but couldn’t keep up with the CMAC-leading Knights.
The Knights added another Fulcher touchdown run along with a passing touchdown to Joshua Kelly and a blocked punt, which led to a safety.
The Knights added three touchdown runs of 20, 4 and 25 yards to doom the Stallions.
