Goal-line stand leads Anzar in first win of season, 36-34

Darkness may have sped up the game, but it was Anzar’s defense that won it.
Already playing with a running clock, North Valley Baptist (0-3) scored with less than two minutes to play and with the looming twilight quickly turning in to night, the refs said there was time for one more play.
Anzar (1-2) was leading 36-34 needing to stop the two-point attempt to preserve its first win of the year.
The Hawks just watched the Bulldogs score in rapid succession thanks to a muffed kickoff to take what was a comfortable 14-point lead down to just two.
That’s when Arthur Munoz broke up a pass in the end zone and the Hawks went screaming to their sideline.
“That was one of the greatest things ever. It was really intense,” said running back and linebacker Andrew Huaracha.
Anzar’s coaching staff stressed the importance of the win after the game, but also pointed out there were still areas to improve.
“I’m proud of them. They worked hard,” said coach Luis Espinoza. “It was a little sloppy, but we worked hard and played against a good team. … Having these guys come out, they stepped it up. They stepped it up as a team.”
The game featured nine turnovers between the two sides, six of which were Anzar turnovers.
The Hawks, however, turned two of North Valley Baptist’s turnovers into touchdowns, which accounted for 16 of their 36 points.
The Bulldogs also had 16 points off turnovers, with two touchdowns and a safety.
Anzar had several of its expected starters out due to ineligibility and injury, forcing people in to starting or staring roles.
Sophomore Marcos Galvan took the team on his back, rushing for 185 yards and four touchdowns.
“I know how hard I’ve seen him run before, and so it was a break out game for him,” Espinoza said. “And to just have that kind of potential out of him, all I can figure out is he’s going to have an even bigger game coming up.”
Anzar had two 100-yard backs with Huaracha picking up 136 yards on 13 carries.
“I asked him, I said ‘I need every ounce of you. I need ever piece (of you). And he gave it up. He gave every ounce. He’s tired. He’s going to go home and fall asleep.”
Anzar’s offensive line helped to open up most of the holes, and Espinoza was pleased with the effort, especially out of freshman Cody Fisher and center Cody Van Gelder.
There was a lot of praise going around from Espinoza, singling out linemen Izaiah Ornelas and Izaac Ornelas and tight end Victor Flores.
“Those guys I ask a lot out of them,” Espinoza said. “I ask them to give me more and more and they work hard. That’s the biggest thing for me.”
Espinoza expects to have some of his players back next week, which will breed competition on the practice field, but also provide much needed depth at the offensive skill positions.
“We’re going to be a team to be contended with,” Espinoza said. “I just needed to get to this game and get past this game with a win and go on with the rest of our games.”
Anzar opened the scoring in the first quarter with Galvan capping off a 65-yard drive with a 17-yard run for an 8-0 lead.
NVB answered on its ensuing drive, with Mena Otovo hitting Jonathan Popovici on a 42-yard strike to make the game 8-6.
Galvan responded with 13 seconds left in the opening quarter by going 28 yards to paydirt and a 14-6 lead.
Otovo and Popovici connected again on a 5-yard score to make it 14-12 before both sides traded turnovers through three straight possessions.
The Bulldogs threatened near the end of the half, going 53 yards and had first and goal from the 1 but couldn’t score.
A penalty moved them back and they marched to the 1 again on a Anzar penalty, but with fourth and goal from the 1, Anzar’s defense held and kept the score at 14-12 heading into the break.
An Anzar turnover led to a quick score for NVB, with Otovo running 36 yards and a 20-14 lead.
Anzar fumbled again on its first play from scrimmage and recovered it in the end zone. That gave the Bulldogs a safety and a 22-14 lead.
But the Hawks forced a fumble, recovered by Dave Conrath, which set up Galvan on 25-yard run to tie the game.
Galvan punched the ball in again from three yards out to give the Hawks the lead for good with three minutes to play in the third quarter.
Sam Jimenez gave Anzar its ultimate cushion, picking up a fumbled snap and going two yards for a touchdown and a 36-22 lead.
That’s where the game got interesting.
NVB went on a 10-play, 54-yard drive with Otovo going the final three for a touhdown.
On the ensuing kick off, Anzar couldn’t corral the kick and it gave NVB the ball on the Hawks 14. And one play later, Otovo made it a two-point game.
Anzar will next gear up for Stuart Hall for a 1 p.m. Oct. 5 game in San Francisco.
“I thought it was a good start, but we should keep going and go for all wins (from here on out),” Galvan said.