Before their first football season kicked off, the Anzar High
Hawks had three simple goals: Get a first down, score a touchdown
and win. And through the program’s first three games, it has
accomplished all of those.
ANTIOCH
Before their first football season kicked off, the Anzar High Hawks had three simple goals: Get a first down, score a touchdown and win. And through the program’s first three games, it has accomplished all of those.
In the Hawks’ first road game on Friday, they beat Cornerstone Christian 30-14, to give the program its first victory in only its third game.
“It was an amazing feeling,” head coach Luis Espinoza said. “It’s been a long time coming, but they have worked hard.”
It was more than just a win for the Hawks, it was also the first time they never trailed in a game – jumping out to an early 16-0 lead in the first half. After forcing Cornerstone to a missed fourth down conversion, the Anzar offense, behind the legs of Sam Jimenez and Jessie Jimenez, ran over Cornerstone on a short field.
An 8-yard touchdown run by Sam Jimenez, on the team’s first possession, gave the Hawks a lead they would never relinquish thanks to a superb defensive showing.
“The defense was great,” Espinoza said. “When our offense sputtered a bit, the defense stepped up and played great.”
On the defensive side, captain Daniel Modic lead the team with two sacks. The aggressive defense allowed Cornerstone only two second-quarter scoring drives in the game – shutting down the Cornerstone explosive offense.
“The defense stepped up and gave us an opportunity,” Espinoza said.
And the offense took advantage with four touchdowns.
Jesse Jimenez punished the Cornerstone defense, rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Sam Jimenez did his part with 45 yards and one touchdown on the ground on only eight carries.
Despite the Hawks offensive output in the first half, the team only led by two points at halftime because of two late scoring drives form Cornerstone.
But with a 16-14 halftime lead, the offense and defense continued to get better as the game went on.
Quarterback Jeremy Cedeno scored in the third quarter to extend the Anzar lead to 24-14. Cedeno scored on a broken down passing play from the 15-yard line when he couldn’t find an open receiver.
Cedeno finished with 22 yards on four carries. The quarterback also when 4-6 through the air for 40 yards and an interception.
Anzar would add another score on a running play from backup freshman quarterback Kevin Stofer late in the fourth quarter.
Overall, the Hawks tallied up a school record of 250 yards of total offense in their first win.
This week’s San Benito Score:
