Catalina was attempting to go 3-0 for only the second time since 2005 but an early 6-0 lead at Desert Christian, and a close 12-6 deficit at the half, snowballed into a 44-6 loss to drop the Trojans to 2-1 on the year. The Eagles, however, are now 3-1 in the programs’ first year playing 11-man football.

Longtime assistant and head coach Virgil Henderson is in his first year with Catalina and former Pusch Ridge head coach Bob Vance is in his first year with Desert Christian and both coaches are known for their ability to teach the game of football to athletes starting out in the sport and they are also known for teaching life lessons. Often, this is what’s needed at the small-school level.

Desert Christian went 6-2 last year, including a playoff win, at the 1A level but the Eagles were realigned to the 2A Conference this year. An expanded playoff format means the Eagles need to finish somewhere in the top 24 to see the playoffs once again while Catalina is playing as an independent team in the 2A Conference.

Levi Samuels finished with 70 yards rushing on 17 carries with the bulk of those yards coming early with the Trojans going up 6-0 on a short run from Caden Ozment with 10:19 left in the first half. The Eagles had difficulty moving the ball until Brock Payne hit Kyann Garang from 21 yards out on a long fourth down play with 3:21 left. A failed extra point made it 6-6 but the Eagles got the ball back with just over a minute remaining in the half and Payne connected with Garang again as time ran out on a 20-yard pass on another long fourth down to make it 12-6.

Payne threw to Luke Gorman to put Desert Christian up 20-6 with 8:06 left in the third and the game started to get away from Catalina, especially after Joshua Median came up with a touchdown on a 41-yard interception return to put the Eagles up 28-6 with 7:10 left in the quarter.

A safety on a failed punt attempt put Desert Christian up 30-6 and then Logan Benson caught a 9-yard pass to put Desert Christian up 36-6 with 3:55 left. Another failed punt attempt set up a 6-yard pass to Roman Sanchez for the 44-6 final under a running clock. Payne recovered a fumble down the stretch but that was offset by an interception from Zyaire Nash.

Payne finished with 179 yards passing (15-32) with five touchdowns. Garang pulled in 77 yards with two touchdowns, Sanchez had 49 yards receiving with a touchdown and Gorman had 44 yards receiving with a touchdown. Gorman also had 22 yards rushing.

Desert Christian hosts San Carlos (2-1) next Friday and Catalina hosts Lincoln Prep (1-3).

(Levi Samuels/Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

 

 

THE PLAYS