On Friday night at the Cave, the Mingus football team dominated Grand Canyon Region newcomer, Mohave 48-18 and defended their crown as GCR Champions. Not only did Mingus win the region title, but also improved to 10-0 on the season.
Mohave came into Friday night's game, 4-0 in the Grand Canyon Region like Mingus. As in previous years, the Marauders needed to show the newbie in the region, that if a team wants the GCR Crown, they have to go through Mingus.
Mingus kicked off to Mohave to start the game. The Thunderbirds started their drive on their own 35-yard line. After a couple of small runs, Mohave got a first down. On 1st and 10 on their own 48-yard line, the Mohave quarterback Meyers found Crone in the air, up the middle for a 52-yard touchdown pass. With just two minutes off of the clock, the Thunderbirds were able to do what other teams in the GCR couldn't - put Mingus behind on the scoreboard.
Mohave went for the PAT, but Tanner Drake was able to bust through the line and block the attempt. The score was 6-0.
Mingus got the kick-off and started the drive on their own 36-yard line. Quarterback Nick Alred tried to pass, but it fell incomplete. Then on second down, Alred kept the ball and sprinted down the sideline, past defenders and was finally caught at Mohave's 7-yard line. A handoff to Gonzalez made it 2nd and goal from the six. Then Alred pitched the ball to Mike Majors on the right side. Majors sprinted around defenders and into the end zone for six. Des Braly kicked the PAT and Mingus led, 7-6 with 8:47 left in the first quarter.
When Mohave got the ball back, they couldn't get lightning to strike twice. Instead, the Marauder defense held them to a 3-and-out with big hits from Tanner Drake, Logan Couch, Matt Chavez and Juan Gonzalez.
The Marauders got the ball back on Mohave's 36-yard line after a very short punt. With just 36-yards to the end zone, Alred found Majors in the air for 28 yard for a 1st down and goal at Mohave's 8-yard line. Mingus tried to punch it through three times, but were stopped. Then on 4th down at the 10, Alred threw the ball to Austin Rogers in the end zone for a touchdown. Braly's kick was good and Mingus led, 14-6 with 4:52 left in the first quarter.
On their next possession, the Thunderbirds were able to put together a 6-play drive before punting the ball away. Starting at their own 36, the quarterback gained three yards, but then was crushed by Logan Islas and Tyler Openshaw. Devin Martinez helped but the big hit on the quarterback on the next play and most of the defense got in on a tackle or two to stop the drive.
Mohave punted the ball to Mingus, which started the drive on their own 26-yard line. Mingus just needed one play this time to score. Alred pitched the ball to Majors. Majors took off as he sprinted 74-yards to the end zone. Braly's kick was good and Mingus led, 21-6 with 1:25 left in the first quarter.
Mohave got the ball back on their own 28-yard line to start their next drive. The first quarter was expiring fast. The Thunderbirds lost yards on their next two plays to end the quarter looking at a 3rd and 20 from their own 18. That's when Mohave found a hole and completed a 26-yard pass up the middle for a first down. Runs were not successful against Mingus and again, the Thunderbirds were faced with 3rd down. And again, a pass up the middle to Barstow netted a first down.
After the pass completions for big downs, the Marauder secondary plugged the hole and the Thunderbirds were forced to try to switch things up in the air and on the ground. After 17-plays and almost a full quarter of possession, the Thunderbirds punched the ball in from eight yards out. The 2-point conversion was no good when Logan Couch met the ball carrier at the goal line with a crushing tackle. Mingus continued to lead, 21-12 with 4:43 left in the second quarter.
Jay Hockman caught the kickoff and returned the ball to the Marauders' 42-yard line to start the drive. After Mohave's long drive down field, fighting for every inch ... it only took Mingus one play to find the end zone. Alred found Rogers in stride down field. The perfect pass and reception added six to Mingus' score. Braly kicked the PAT and made it 28-12 with 4:25 left on the clock in the first half.
Mohave wasn't able to put together anything on their next drive as Gonzalez, Couch and Cruz Chavez combined for crushing blows. When Mingus got the ball back on their own 45-yard line, they marched the ball down to Mohave's 30-yard line but turned the ball over on downs. Mohave got the ball back, but on 1st and 10, Ronald Morones plucked the pass out of the air for the game's first turnover.
Mingus tried to punch the ball in before the end of the half, but ran out of time. The Marauders led, 28-12
Mingus got the ball to start the second half. On 1st and 10 at their own 39-yard line, Alred handed off to Gonzalez. Gonzalez broke through and got the ball down to Mohave's 13-yard line. Alred then pitched the ball to Majors for the touchdown. Braly's kick was good. With 11:11 on the clock in the 3rd quarter, the Marauders led, 35-12.
Mohave got the ball on the kickoff and began the drive on their own 27-yard line. The Thunderbirds took it downfield and found the end zone 5:30 minutes later on an 11-play drive. The 2-point conversion was no good and the score was 35-18.
It was Mingus time to take some time off of the clock. In 10 straight running plays, Gonzalez punched it in from a yard out. Braly's kick was good and the Marauders led, 42-18 with 1:06 left in the third quarter.
Mohave began their next drive on their own 18-yard line. With the help of a facemask call on Mingus, the Thunderbirds were given a fresh set of downs to start the 4th quarter at their own 41-yard line. But they couldn't get any farther as the Marauder defense shut the pass and run down. Mohave faked the punt, but the Marauders stopped the Thunderbirds shy of a first down and got the ball back.
Backed up at their own 23-yard line, Alred handed off to Kevin Webb for 12 yards. Hockman netted three on the next run. Then Alred pitched to Majors, who was on his way to the end zone, but was knocked out of bounds at the 3-yard line. Alred kept the ball himself and punched it in for a touchdown. The PAT was no good and Mingus led, 48-18 with 8:43 left in the game.
When Mohave got the ball back, they went right to the air strike. But on 2nd and 10, Cruz Chavez plucked the ball out of the air and gave it back to Mingus. The Marauders were ready to get another score, as they put together a 10-play drive, but on Mohave's 4-yard line, the ball was fumbled and recovered by Mohave.
The fumble stopped Mingus from scoring, but it didn't do any good for Mohave, which went 7-plays and netted three yards before punting the ball away.
With about 90-seconds left, the Marauders kneeled down for the remainder of the game and won, 48-18.
Stats: Alred went 5-for-11 in the air for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Rogers had two receptions for 68 yards, Sandoval had one catch for 11 yards and Majors had one catch for 20 yards.
On the ground, Majors was unstoppable with seven carries for 176 yards. Gonzalez went 117 yards on 11 carries. Alred ran seven times for 68 yards. Timm had four carries for 34 yards and Webb had four carries for 32 yards. Braly went 6-for-7 on PATs.
The Marauders finished the regular season 10-0 and were crowned Grand Canyon Region Champions. The Marauders went 5-0 in the region and now get ready for the State Playoffs, where they will host the first two rounds of the 4A II Conference State tournament, beginning on Friday, Nov. 13.
