Stallions powerless to Apaches assault
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera South running back Dallas Hansen takes the ball up the field during Friday’s loss to the Sanger Apaches.
The Madera South Stallions football team opened its County/Metro Athletic Conference matchup against the Sanger Apaches with a touchdown but failed to recreate its initial effort throughout the game in a 63-19 loss in Memorial Stadium.
Led by Kosi Agina, Damian Duarte and Orlando Douglas, the Sanger Apaches rushed their way to a conference victory over the Stallions. The trio combined for eight of the Apaches’ nine touchdowns.
The biggest touchdown came from Douglas, who caught a 60-yard touchdown from Jamison Silva in the third quarter, and Duarte, who took a handoff 52 yards for a score just before Douglas.
Sanger combined a bit of patience, but also a knack for the big play.
Madera South, on the other hand, had their moments early in the game.
Dallas Hansen took the opening kickoff 60 yards down the field, setting up the first touchdown of the game. The Stallions only needed two plays for quarterback Jaden Cisneros to take a designed run up the middle and into the end zone from 18 yards out. Madera South missed the extra point, but took an early 6-0 lead.
The Stallion offense made waves early on, but they weren’t the only ones. After the Apaches repaid the favor with a touchdown of their own, they forced the Stallion offense into a punt.
With the momentum now on the visitor’s side, Madera South recaptured it due to sophomore Alberto Torres. Torres, along with the Stallion front seven, pushed the Apache front line into Silva’s lap, forcing the ball out of his hands and onto the ground.
Numerous Stallion players lunged for the ball but couldn’t quite corral the erratic ball. Luckily, Torres reached the ball before a Sanger player could recover. The sophomore showed elite awareness to pick the ball up and run it into the end zone for a 15-yard score.
Madera South tried for the two-point conversion, but Hansen was unable to take Cisneros’ pass into the end zone.
Sanger answered the fumble with four-consecutive scores to effectively finish the game.
The Stallions found the end zone one last time in the second quarter after Cisneros found Steven Alaniz wide open for a short score, inside the 10-yard line.
The Stallions now turn their attention to a Thursday night matchup with CMAC opponents, Bullard-Fresno at a McLane Stadium. With only a few more games remaining before playoffs, the Stallions look to turn the ship around before the seasons end.
