The Anzar High football players learned their lesson.
A month after they lost focus in the latter stages of a 36-20 win over Stuart Hall-San Francisco, the Hawks (3-3 Mission Trail 8-man league) kept their poise and motivation in a 74-6 laugher over Crystal Springs Uplands-Hillsborough last week. The win marked Anzar’s largest margin of victory for a rising program in its third year of existence.
“The kids didn’t step off the gas pedal, they had fun and they enjoyed it,” Hawks coach Luis Espinoza said. “I can’t really complain about anything. Our biggest goal was to get everyone in the game.”
Anzar’s entire 26-man roster got playing time, as Espinoza pulled out his starters with the team up 56-6 midway through the third quarter. Anzar literally pounded Crystal Springs Uplands into submission, rushing for 287 yards.
Hawks tailback Sergio Gonzalez had 109 yards on 15 carries, Marcos Galvan finished with 73 yards on just six carries, and Angel Jimenez had 52 on 11 and three touchdowns.
Quarterback Sam Jimenez was 5 of 8 for 128 yards, including touchdown throws of 3 and 38 yards, while also rushing for a 40-yard score. Tight end Victor Flores was once again the top receiving threat, finishing with five catches for 85 yards.
Despite all the gaudy stats, Espinoza said he was most pleased that the team committed just one fumble. Fumbles have been an issue for the Hawks all season, but they played their cleanest game of the year against the Gryphons.
“The kids understood what was at hand,” Espinoza said. “They knew they had to take care of the football.”
Anzar also produced a tour de force on defense, finishing with six sacks — two each from Andrew Huaracha, Izaac Ornelas and Angel Jimenez. The defense figures to receive a much tougher test when it goes up against Rincon Valley Christian-Santa Rosa, a team from the North Central Division III 8-man league.
Although the Eagles have an equal run-pass ratio (136 plays each), Espinoza said they’re more effective picking apart defenses through the air. Eagles quarterback Daniel Maples is completing only 39.5 percent of his passes, but when he completes them, they usually go for a bunch. Maples is averaging a whopping 18.1 yards per completion.
“Our pass defense has been very vulnerable,” Espinoza said. “In this game, we’re going to try to keep their offense off the field. They like to spread the defense out, and they’ve got a really good quarterback. But we’re a bigger team, and I think man for man a better team.”
Anzar was set to play Rincon Valley Christian on Saturday at noon; however, since the Hawks’ Nov. 2 game against Potter Valley was cancelled because Potter Valley had to cancel its season due to insufficient numbers, Espinoza made a request to Rincon Valley to push their game back a week to the Nov. 2 slot, which is Anzar’s Homecoming Game.
Whatever happens, the Hawks have already surpassed last year’s win total of two, marking a significant achievement for the coaching staff, which consists of co-offensive coordinators Stephen Gaitan and Jason Russell, defensive coordinator Jay Ehret and line coach Fred Rosales.
The four assistants and Espinoza have been together since the program’s inception.
“It does mean a lot because we’ve worked hard and sacrificed a lot,” Espinoza said. “There’s not many better things in life than sharing in success.”
