Vista Grande dominates second half in 40-25 win over Maricopa

Casa Grande Vista Grande controlled the ball for almost the entire second half, running 35 offensive plays to just 12 for Maricopa as the Spartans pulled away to score a 40-25 victory at the MHS stadium Friday night.

Leading, 20-18 at halftime, the Spartans opened the second half with a 90-yard, 13-play drive that pushed the score to 26-18 when the extra point was missed. During the drive, VGHS converted two of the seven third-down plays it had during the final 24 minutes that helped it control the ball.

“It’s hard to win if you don’t have the ball,” Rams’ head coach Cory Nenaber said. “We’ve got to develop some intestinal fortitude where we’re going to decide that we’re not going to give up a first down.”

As to why the Spartans were able to convert seven of eight third downs in the half, Nenaber said, “We’re not in very good shape. That’s my fault. It’s also lack of focus, understanding football. Understanding that this is a big play for us right now. We’ve got to make a stop right here. I don’t think we have that as football players right now.”

The game had actually started quite well for the Rams. After failing on a fourth down at the Spartans 25, Jamar Allen recovered a Brandon Ortega fumble at the 27 two plays later. Kentrell Coleman raced 22 yards on one play, followed by Randel Barber’s five-yard touchdown for the TD. A bad snap prevented an extra point kick, giving MHS a 6-0 lead.

VGHS answered quickly with Sergio Iruegas scoring from five yards out to take a 7-0 lead.

Barber then showed why he is considered one of the top running threats in the state, picking up a low snap, heading up the middle and racing 74 yards for a score. A two-point conversion missed, and the Rams were back on top, 12-7.

It quickly became 18-7 when Coleman picked off a Levi Durnil passed in the flat and took it 30-yards to the end zone, but another two-point try failed. That, however, would be Maricopa’s last offensive touchdown.

The Spartans drove 65-yards in 10 plays, capped by a three-yard Ortega TD to cut the deficit to 18-13. Anthony Martinez blocked the extra point.

But after an MHS drive stalled at the Spartan 30, Vista Grande mounted another long drive with Durnil throwing 13 yards to Austin Myers for the score. Myers added the extra point that gave VGHS a 20-18 halftime lead.

The second half simply belonged to the Spartans. It opened with the 90-yard march. After Maricopa stalled without a first down, Franshua Avila unloaded a 59-yard punt that rolled dead at the VGHS one. It gave the Rams an opportunity to gain good field position if they could hold the Spartans on that series. But on third and four, Durnil found Jesus Galaz for a 30-yard completion that ignited a 99-yard drive. Durnil finished it with a 35-yard TD strike over the middle to Myers.

Now down 33-18, Maricopa got one last chance. On the ensuing kickoff, the Spartans elected to kick deep to the threat that is Barber. They had kept the ball away from him on all previous kicking situations and paid for that choice. Barber took the ball right and streaked 90 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Carlos Cano’s extra point cut the gap to 33-25, keeping MHS within a one-touchdown margin.

The Rams had one final opportunity when they forced the only VGHS punt of the half with just 5:14 to play, but went three — and-out deep in their own territory. Four plays later Ortega went in from the three-yard line, effectively ending Maricopa’s chances.

***ADVERTISEMENT***Despite the loss, Nenaber felt the Rams played better than last week in a 42-0 loss to powerful Williams Field.

“We did do some really good things in the first half,” he said. “We showed what we’re capable of.  I think we rushed for over 200 yards in the first half.  We showed glimpses of what we can do. Now it’s about, one, we’ve got to get in shape enough to do it for four quarters, and also really understanding the magnitude of the situation.”

Barber finished with 169 yards on the ground after gaining 163 in the opening half. Coleman added 39, but MHS was just one for six in passing, for minus three yards.

Vista Grande, on the other hand, passed for 242 yards, with Durnil completing 16 of 21 attempts and adding 86 more on the ground. Ortega piled up 124 ground yards as the Spartans totaled 248 rushing yards.

The task for Maricopa next week is a tough one, traveling to a strong Tempe Marcos de Niza team.