Birds Start Slow, But Have Little Trouble With Ganado

By Greg Perkins
   Holbrook picked up its fifth conference football win last Friday night, 45-18, but through the first half it looked as if the Roadrunners were going to have problems with a pesky Ganado Hornet team that had won just two games this year. Holbrook turnovers coupled with Ganado’ play kept the game in doubt until the second half.
   Ganado scored first, taking advantage of a Holbrook fumble which gave the Hornets great field position. Lyman Sandoval found Boyd Gorman behind the Holbrook defense for a 45-yard touchdown pass.
   Holbrook answered back and tied the game when Ilacian Johnson rushed in from 24 yards away. Holbrook’s two point conversion attempt was not good, but the Hornets obliged with two points later in the period by hiking the ball over the punters head and through the end zone, giving the Roadrunners a safety and an 8-6 lead at the end of the first period.
   Another Holbrook fumble led to the next Ganado score when Travis James pushed his way into the end zone from three yards out, putting the Hornets on top 12-8.
   Holbrook regained the lead on a 62-yard scoring run by Johnson, pushing the Birds ahead 14-12.
   Ganado went back on top when Dwight Bia scored on a three-yard run putting the Hornets on top 18-14, but that would be their final lead of the game.
   Holbrook countered just before the half on Johnson’s third touchdown run, this one from 51 yards away. The extra point failed, but Holbrook held the halftime lead at 20-18.
   After giving the Hornets hope of an upset win, the Roadrunners stepped up their play in the second half and took better care of the football. Jalen Jackson scored on a 46-yard run and Ryan Baldonado’s point after extended the lead to 27-18.
   Holbrook’s defense then forced a punt, which Blake Maestas returned 48 yards for another score, pushing the margin to 33-18 heading to the fourth period.
   Jackson scored on a two-yard run in the fourth period and Marcus Castillo returned a Ganado interception 48 yards for the final points of the night, giving the Birds a 45-18 home win on Senior Night.
   Holbrook outgained the Hornets 330 total yards to 272. The Roadrunners six turnovers compared to four by the Hornets.
   Jackson completed just one of four pass attempts, good for six yards, to Marcus Castillo.
   The Roadrunners were led in rushing by Johnson, who gained 167 yards on just 10 runs. Jackson rushed nine times for 90 yards; Castillo, three for 25; Maestas, two for 16; James Self, three for 14; and Caleb Layden, three for 12 yards.
   Castillo led the defense with three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Robert Jager also recovered a fumble.
Ganado    6 12     0     0   18
Holbrook 8 12   12   13   45
   Holbrook is now 6-3 on the season and will travel to Chino Valley this week, with the possibility of hosting a first round playoff game next week looming. A win at Chino Valley would pretty much guarantee a home game, but a loss would mean the Roadrunners would need help from other teams to host in the first round.