WILLOW CANYON 27, KINGMAN 5
by Jason Stone
SurpriseLights.com
Oct. 26, 2007
Willow Canyon coach Michael Hudnutt is not the kind of coach to look past the current week's opponent. But even he had to see into the future enough to know that his team will be playing in the postseason for the first time ever.
The Wildcats unofficially wrapped up one of the 16 spots int he 5A-Division II playoffs with a 27-5 win over Kingman. The win was the seventh of the year for the Wildcats, who can also earn a first-round home game with a win over Goldwater next week and some help from other teams.
Either way, it appears Willow Canyon is playoff bound in its third varsity season.
"I think mathematically we were able to do that," Hudnutt said after his team led from start to finish against Kingman.
Willow Canyon scored on its first possession of the game and never looked back, despite looking sluggish at times. Sophomore running back Charles James, who provided the explosion for the Wildcats' offense, sparked the drive with a 35-yard run, setting up a 1-yard sneak by quarterback Trey Clarida.
Kingman got within two points on a 40-yard field goal and a safety when a Willow Canyon punt snap went out of the back of the end zone, but Willow Canyon kept the Bulldogs at bay.
Joey Cota broke off a big 43-yard run midway through the second quarter, setting up his 1-yard score to put Willow Canyon up 13-5.
James then broke the game open in the second half. Playing for injured starter B.J. Scott, who is done for the year with knee surgery, James sliced and diced his way to two second half touchdown runs -- one 66 yards, the other 23 -- and gained 156 yards total on 14 carries.
He would have gone over the 200-yard mark for the first time, but a 63-yard run in the second quarter was called back for a penalty.
"It feels great helping the team with me being a sophomore," James said. "B.J. keeps telling me that I have a big responsibility and that I have to do what I have to do to lead the team to the playoffs."
Game Links
MaxPreps.com (stats)
WILLOW CANYON 27, KINGMAN 5 | |||||
KINGMAN |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
WILLOW CANYON |
7 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCORING | |||||
WC-Trey Clarida 1 run (Mason Hughes kick) | |||||
K-40 field goal | |||||
K-Safety, punt snap out of end zone | |||||
WC-Joey Cota 1 run (kick failed) | |||||
WC-Charles James 66 run (kick failed) | |||||
WC-Charles James 23 run (KC Simmons pass from Clarida) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
WILLOW CANYON PASSING |
Com |
Att |
Yds |
TD |
Int |
Trey Clarida |
1 |
6 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WILLOW CANYON RUSHING |
No. |
Yds |
TD |
Avg |
|
Charles James |
13 |
158 |
2 |
12.2 |
|
Joey Cota |
15 |
71 |
1 |
4.7 |
|
Daniel Torres |
4 |
17 |
0 |
4.3 |
|
Trey Clarida |
3 |
16 |
1 |
5.3 |
|
Justin Schreiffels |
1 |
3 |
0 |
3.0 |
|
Michael Turner |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2.0 |
|
Cody Skavarek |
1 |
-26 |
0 |
-26.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WILLOW CANYON RECEIVING |
No. |
Yds |
TD |
Avg |
|
Daniel Torres |
1 |
9 |
0 |
9.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WILLOW CANYON DEFENSE |
Tkl |
Ast |
Sac |
FR |
Int |
Garrett Adrian |
1 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Joey Cota |
2 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Devin Dashnaw |
0 |
3 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Micah Henige |
0 |
6 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Josue Howerton |
0 |
4 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Chris Huber |
0 |
1 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Mason Hughes |
1 |
2 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Justin Jones |
2 |
5 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Gilbert Linares |
0 |
3 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Peter Martinez |
2 |
1 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Chris Robinson |
2 |
3 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Eugene Salsberry |
0 |
5 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Justin Schreiffels |
0 |
1 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
KC Simmons |
0 |
2 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Cody Skavarek |
1 |
1 |
0.0 |
1 |
0 |
Collin Stoffel |
3 |
13 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Daniel Torres |
3 |
8 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Joey Tucker |
0 |
6 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
Justin Weber |
1 |
2 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
