Loss for Stallions at Homecoming
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera South quarterback Jonah Johnson leaps over a Sanger defender during the first half of Friday’s loss to the Apaches. Johnson led all ball carriers with 115 yards rushing.
The Madera South Stallions experienced their most lopsided defeat of the year against the Sanger Apaches, 49-14, on Homecoming.
“It was a tough game, obviously,” said Madera South head coach Dane Cook. “They’re undefeated for a reason.”
Friday’s game started off bad for the Stallions during the opening kickoff when the Apaches knocked the ball loose and recovered the fumble on Madera South’s 39-yard line. A 19-yard run by Christopher Soria helped move Sanger down the field, with the visiting team scoring its first touchdown of the night with a seven-yard run by Christian Graney.
Starting with the ball on its own 29-yard line, Madera South had a near-interception on the first play, followed by another fumble, which was recovered again by Sanger at the 21-yard line. The first play after the turnover, however, saw Madera South’s Maurice McClain intercept the ball from the Apaches. The ensuing drive was unsuccessful, though, requiring a punt by the Stallions.
The drive following the punt marked the first time in the game that the Apaches had possession of the ball in its own territory, at their 47-yard line. They didn’t remain there for long. On the second play, Graney ran 20 yards, followed by a 12-yard run by Soria. The Apaches finished the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass by Jacob Tijerina to Jalen Cropper.
The next drive for Madera South resulted in a punt, followed by 43-yard touchdown pass to Arron Mosby for the Apaches for a 21-0 first quarter lead.
Continuing a possession into the second quarter, the Stallions started with the ball at their own 24-yard line. In a 15-play drive, Madera South moved slowly, converting a fourth down with a pass to Jacob Kirkpatrick. The drive ended in Madera South’s first touchdown of the night, a pass to Kirkpatrick for 18 yards.
The Apaches, however, responded with another touchdown of their own thanks to a three-yard run by Soria.
After being forced to punt on its next drive, Madera South gave up its fifth touchdown of the night, after a 15-yard run by Graney, and a 23-yard run by Jacob Garnica were topped off with a four-yard pass to Soria for a 35-7 lead at the half.
It didn’t take long for Sanger to score again in the second half. After the kickoff, the Apaches started at their 36-yard line. Graney ran 12 yards, and then Cropper blew past the Stallions for a 52-yard touchdown run.
Madera South failed to score on the next drive, but held Sanger in its next possession, thanks in part to a sack by Mathew Manoz.
Garnica, however, would score in the Apaches’ next drive.
In turn, Madera South scored the last points of the evening with a nine-yard run by McClain, but it was not enough to stop a 49-14 win for Sanger.
