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Cowboys get redemption
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| Shane Hicks managed to work his way past a Lordsburg defender (Daniel Talavera) giving the Cowboys a first-and-goal scoring opportunity. Nick Jimenez provides support at right. Hicks ran for a total of 94 yards and scored 3 touchdowns in a 34-6 Cowboy victory over the Mavericks_ (Dave Brown/ARN) |
Willcox's 34-6 win replaces last year's blemish on their season record
By Ainslee S. Wittig/arizona range news
A better start than last year's superb 8-2 campaign doesn't have WHS football coach Jim Hughes excited. "We were not very good. Offensively, we have a lot to do. We missed a lot of blocks, and went after the same kid. But I think after practice today (Monday), we understand now what we should be doing."
The final 34-6 score in Friday's season opener against Lordsburg was deceptive, he said.
"Lordsburg fumbled the ball a couple of times inside their territory and we were able to take advantage of that. But we weren't able to sustain the offense - we had a couple of offsides. I don't know if it was first-game jitters or just a lack of concentration. But we should be better," he said.
The visiting Mavericks were not the same team that humbled Willcox last year 34-15, also in a season opener for both teams. Willcox bounced back to win their next 8 in a row before losing last season's finale at Benson.
At least they avoided negative bookends for this new season as the Cowboys, third-ranked in the state's 2A division by the Arizona Republic, exhibited a stifling defensive effort that allowed no first downs in the first half.
"Our defense was very good. We read the cues well and reacted to the ball," Hughes said.
Willcox did manage a 12-0 lead by half-time after two scores in the second quarter. Hughes said "Shane Hicks ran the ball with great authority - with power and intensity; and Anthony Torres did a good job running - the two of them racked up 160 yards rushing in their shared position - Hicks with 94 yards and three touchdowns and Torres with 74 yards."
Quarterback Justin Rockhill added 44 yards on the ground and one touchdown.
"But our passing game was two for 14 and we threw two of them to Lordsburg, but it'll come," he said.
The two completions that weren't interceptions, from Rockhill to tight end Jacob Drage, did result in scores, however. Drage caught an extra point toss early in the third quarter and hauled in a 23-yarder for six points to give Willcox a 28-0 lead at the 7:37 mark of the third period.
Lordsburg's only score came on a 20-yard fumble return late in the third before Willcox closed out the scoring with Hicks' 15-yard run early in the fourth period.
The Cowboys (1-0) travel to Baboquivari at 7 p.m. Friday.
"They haven't had a good program in a couple of years, but we still can't take them lightly. We still have to show up and play football," he said.
The first serious challenge to the Cowboys goal of being unbeaten will come in another away game, at Safford on Sept. 10.
"We hope to be better off (in offensive execution) come Safford," Hughes said.
By Ainslee S. Wittig/arizona range news
A better start than last year's superb 8-2 campaign doesn't have WHS football coach Jim Hughes excited. "We were not very good. Offensively, we have a lot to do. We missed a lot of blocks, and went after the same kid. But I think after practice today (Monday), we understand now what we should be doing."
The final 34-6 score in Friday's season opener against Lordsburg was deceptive, he said.
"Lordsburg fumbled the ball a couple of times inside their territory and we were able to take advantage of that. But we weren't able to sustain the offense - we had a couple of offsides. I don't know if it was first-game jitters or just a lack of concentration. But we should be better," he said.
The visiting Mavericks were not the same team that humbled Willcox last year 34-15, also in a season opener for both teams. Willcox bounced back to win their next 8 in a row before losing last season's finale at Benson.
At least they avoided negative bookends for this new season as the Cowboys, third-ranked in the state's 2A division by the Arizona Republic, exhibited a stifling defensive effort that allowed no first downs in the first half.
"Our defense was very good. We read the cues well and reacted to the ball," Hughes said.
Willcox did manage a 12-0 lead by half-time after two scores in the second quarter. Hughes said "Shane Hicks ran the ball with great authority - with power and intensity; and Anthony Torres did a good job running - the two of them racked up 160 yards rushing in their shared position - Hicks with 94 yards and three touchdowns and Torres with 74 yards."
Quarterback Justin Rockhill added 44 yards on the ground and one touchdown.
"But our passing game was two for 14 and we threw two of them to Lordsburg, but it'll come," he said.
The two completions that weren't interceptions, from Rockhill to tight end Jacob Drage, did result in scores, however. Drage caught an extra point toss early in the third quarter and hauled in a 23-yarder for six points to give Willcox a 28-0 lead at the 7:37 mark of the third period.
Lordsburg's only score came on a 20-yard fumble return late in the third before Willcox closed out the scoring with Hicks' 15-yard run early in the fourth period.
The Cowboys (1-0) travel to Baboquivari at 7 p.m. Friday.
"They haven't had a good program in a couple of years, but we still can't take them lightly. We still have to show up and play football," he said.
The first serious challenge to the Cowboys goal of being unbeaten will come in another away game, at Safford on Sept. 10.
"We hope to be better off (in offensive execution) come Safford," Hughes said.
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