The Bourgade Catholic Golden Eagles are off to an explosive start this season. In the last four games, they have outscored opponents 206-9.

Perhaps no game has better exemplified their dominant style of play then when they cruised to a 49-0 shutout victory on homecoming night. That Sept. 20 win over the visiting Tuba City Warriors extended their win streak and was the biggest win of the season as far as point differential. 

“It’s great for the fans,” said senior running back and linebacker Ismael Alvizo. “They’ve been waiting for us to get a win on homecoming.”

Bourgade Catholic led before even running a play on offense, as senior linebacker and wide receiver Mason McDowell returned a Tuba City fumble 45 yards for a touchdown on the game’s fourth play from scrimmage.

“Someone kicked the ball right into my stomach, and I just ran,” McDowell said.

McDowell accounted for three of the game’s first four touchdowns, including a 65-yard touchdown reception from Louie Lopez that put the Golden Eagles up 21-0 in the second quarter.

The Golden Eagles defense allowed only six points combined in that three-game stretch, combined, outscoring opponents 145-6 over that period.

McDowell and Alvizo were both instrumental in stifling Tuba City’s offensive attack, making several key tackles for loss and delivering a couple of crushing hits on Warrior ballcarriers.

On offense, the Golden Eagles were just as dominant, scoring in four plays or less on every single touchdown drive.

They committed several penalties early in the game, but were able to avoid any serious damage.

“We’ll look at film and see what happened,” said head coach Marcel Lopez following the blowout win. “We need to really clean that up and make sure our blocks are legal.”

Despite their size disadvantage, the Golden Eagles were able to score at will, tearing through a Tuba City defense that had allowed only six points in their previous game against Hopi High School.

Coach Lopez said the Golden Eagles’ speed and playmaking ability made up for the size difference.

“When you have a running back like Josh Dreher, it really opens up things to the outside,” he said.

Quarterback Louie Lopez threw only eight passes throughout the entire game, completing seven of them for 136 yards and three touchdowns.

Dreher was once again impressive, rushing for 67 yards on eight carries and adding a 30-yard touchdown on his only catch of the game.

Dreher electrified the already raucous crowd at Bourgade Catholic on a 23-yard run early in the third quarter by hurdling a Tuba City defender. However, the play was negated by a holding penalty.

As good as Dreher was, Alvizo’s play in the backfield turned heads for the second week in a row, as he scored touchdowns on each of his two carries.

“I just wanted to come out here and get the win for homecoming” Alvizo said.

Despite the stellar play from both running backs, coach Lopez shut down any speculation that the Golden Eagles would move to a split backfield.

“Josh (Dreher) is our starting running back,” Lopez said. “He’s a three-year starter for us, but we do have other weapons that we can use at any time.”

In the week following the victory over Tuba City, Bourgade Catholic rattled off another massive win, this time 58-13 over the Kingman Academy Tigers on the road. The win was the first of three consecutive road games for the Golden Eagles. Next, they travel to Gilbert Christian to take on the 4-2 Knights.