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Combs’ RB Erick Guerra (32) runs away from a Dons’ defender during last Friday’s game. Kelli Luberda | Ledger
Southeast Valley Ledger
The consensus among Combs’ football players and coaches after last Friday’s 17 – 14 loss at No. 17 Coronado was the No. 10-ranked Yotes were not beaten by the Dons but themselves.
“We shot ourselves in the foot,” Combs’ head coach Jesse Hart said after the game. “In so many ways tonight, we shot ourselves in the foot.”
Junior running back Erick Guerra capped off the opening possession of the game with a rushing touchdown and after a successful two-point conversion the Coyotes held an 8 – 0 lead.
The Yotes had several opportunities to increase their lead throughout the first-half, but untimely penalties, poor execution, and turnovers – including an interception near the goal line just before halftime – prevented them from doing so.
“I’ll take the blame for that,” Hart said about his team’s uncharacteristic performance. “It’s my job as the head coach to make sure this football is disciplined and, obviously, I haven’t done my job. We’ll fix that starting (last Saturday).”
The Yotes’ defense, which recorded eight sacks and an interception in the game, played well enough to win and held the high-scoring Dons to their lowest scoring output of the season. Coronado entered the game averaging almost 37 points per game but scored only seven during the first half and trailed the Yotes at halftime, 8 – 7.
The Dons took the lead in the third quarter after kicker Alfredo Marquez drilled a 50-yard field goal to make the score 10 – 8.
More penalties on both sides of the ball, poor execution, and too many long-distance yards-to-gain for first downs kept the Yotes from any consistency on offense in the second half. As a result, Coronado eventually extended its lead to 17 – 8 with just more than five minutes left in the game.
The Yotes pulled within three points after senior running back Jacob Green scored with less than three minutes remaining in the game.
Senior Coda McLaws came up big on a key third-down play when he recorded his third sack of the game, forcing Coronado to punt with under a minute left and giving his team one last chance at a win.
But, again, a penalty caused the Yotes to start their final drive deeper in their own territory and they were unable to pull off any late game heroics.
The Yotes entered last Friday’s game in control of their own destiny to win a sectional championship. The loss in no way eliminates their chances at a championship, but it does require them to win at No. 14 Casa Grande this Friday in what is likely one of the biggest games in the school’s history.
“We can be in a three-way tie,” Hart said. “Our season is not over in any way whatsoever. It’s going to come down to power points and we (are in a good spot). So, it’s a matter of us getting focused starting (Saturday), getting focused the whole entire week, and being ready to go versus Casa Grande.”
It won’t be easy against the now 7 – 1 Cougars, especially with as many as four starters out with injury. The Yotes’ sideline resembled a mash unit with players on crutches, wearing casts or braces, and suffering from concussions.
“Football is a tough sport,” Hart said. “Players get injured and it’s all about the next guy coming up.”
It’ll be up to Yotes’ leaders to make sure the team is prepared for a game that could perhaps decide the section championship and the automatic playoff berth that comes with it.
“I’m holding myself accountable as a senior leader,” said three-year varsity linebacker Todd Goodman-Schweikart, who had a team-high nine tackles against the Dons. “I want to make sure we come out to practice focused.”
The Yotes better be if they want to beat the Cougars and not themselves.
Kickoff for Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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