SVite
10-29-2005, 11:31 AM
SV brands Madison, 31-21
By Will Wright
The Herald-Zeitung
Published October 29, 2005
SMITHSON VALLEY — Down 14-10 with 6:31 left in the third quarter, Smithson Valley got down and played Rangerball against San Antonio Madison.
The Rangers’ offense scored twice within a three-minute span and the defense made it hold up for a 31-21 victory in front of 8,500 at Ranger Stadium Friday night.
Smithson Valley (8-1 overall; 5-1 in District 26-5A) clinched its 10th straight playoff appearance and can wrap up a share of the district title with a win against SA Roosevelt next Saturday. The Mavericks (7-2, 5-1) lost for the first time since a three-point defeat by San Marcos at the beginning of the season.
Friday’s game turned on defense. Madison quarterback Chris Caflisch and scatback Tony Green wowed during the first half, scooting all over the field for a combined 117 rushing yards. After Caflisch’s 71-yard TD run early in the second half, the Rangers defense clamped down, allowing minus 8 yards rushing the rest of the game.
“I think we wanted it a little bit more in the second half,” said Rangers defensive tackle Ryan Moczygemba, who had two second-half sacks of Caflisch. “Seeing what they saw in the first half, our coaches had a plan for us in the second.”
A light came on for the defenders, Moczygemba said.
“We hadn’t figured them out yet. When we got to the fieldhouse for halftime, our coaches told us what to do. We executed and came out ready to play in the second half.”
The Rangers did, as Moczygemba, ends Matt Pfister and Blane Oertli, linebackers Beau Kitchen and Kendal Volz became regular participants in the Madison backfield. When the Mavs went to pass, there was Andrew Sendejo and Mykel Kovar batting them away.
“Madison has a heckuva football team. We were pleased to get the win,” Smithson Valley coach Larry Hill said. “We knew they would make some plays — we just hoped we could answer them, and we did tonight.”
On offense, the first half belonged to the diminutive Trent Rios, who picked up 63 yards rushing, and receiver Clay Fuller, playing in his first game back since injury.
Trailing 7-0, Fuller’s 30-yard catch from quarterback Bryan Hill tied the game at 7-all just before the end of the first quarter. Chris Stehle’s block of Green’s 32-yard field goal try set up the Rangers for a 12-play, 60-yard series that culminated in David Sweet’s 26-yard field goal 19 seconds before halftime.
Before halftime, Rios went out with a knee and shoulder sprain. In came Sean Hall, who along with Cody McKinney picked up tough, clock-chewing runs that kept the Mavs off the field.
“If you’re an I-back team, you’re going to have to have a lot of I-backs,” Hill said. “And when the time comes, they’re going to have to step up, and Sean Hall did it tonight.”
McKinney bulled in for a 5-yard score that answered Caflisch’s long run, making it 17-14 with four minutes left in the third. Hall got the biggest chunk of his 59 yards on a 32-yard scoring run that made it 24-14 with 1:03 left in the frame.
Moczygemba’s sack of Caflisch forced a punt that set the Rangers up at their 45 with 8:13 left. McKinney’s second score capped a short series and gave the Rangers a 31-14 lead with 4:24 left.
Caflisch did have some magic left, as his 86-yard kickoff return set the table for another score by Green with 3:19 left. But the Rangers snared the onsides kick, and ran out the clock from there.
“We felt like we would have to have a couple of turnovers to have our best chance,” Madison coach Jim Streety said of the Rangers, which didn’t oblige in that area. “They played very well. We didn’t play too badly, but they played very, very well.
“When we went ahead 14-10, I thought their defense turned it up. They whipped us up front for a period of time. I thought in the first half we held our own pretty good, but after that. . . ”
According to league rules, the Rangers can share the title with the Mavs, provided both close with wins next week. Madison plays MacArthur. Hill’s Rangers close against brother Glenn’s Rough Riders.
And according to Moczygemba, that will also be a challenge.
“We’ve still got one more big game,” he said.
By Will Wright
The Herald-Zeitung
Published October 29, 2005
SMITHSON VALLEY — Down 14-10 with 6:31 left in the third quarter, Smithson Valley got down and played Rangerball against San Antonio Madison.
The Rangers’ offense scored twice within a three-minute span and the defense made it hold up for a 31-21 victory in front of 8,500 at Ranger Stadium Friday night.
Smithson Valley (8-1 overall; 5-1 in District 26-5A) clinched its 10th straight playoff appearance and can wrap up a share of the district title with a win against SA Roosevelt next Saturday. The Mavericks (7-2, 5-1) lost for the first time since a three-point defeat by San Marcos at the beginning of the season.
Friday’s game turned on defense. Madison quarterback Chris Caflisch and scatback Tony Green wowed during the first half, scooting all over the field for a combined 117 rushing yards. After Caflisch’s 71-yard TD run early in the second half, the Rangers defense clamped down, allowing minus 8 yards rushing the rest of the game.
“I think we wanted it a little bit more in the second half,” said Rangers defensive tackle Ryan Moczygemba, who had two second-half sacks of Caflisch. “Seeing what they saw in the first half, our coaches had a plan for us in the second.”
A light came on for the defenders, Moczygemba said.
“We hadn’t figured them out yet. When we got to the fieldhouse for halftime, our coaches told us what to do. We executed and came out ready to play in the second half.”
The Rangers did, as Moczygemba, ends Matt Pfister and Blane Oertli, linebackers Beau Kitchen and Kendal Volz became regular participants in the Madison backfield. When the Mavs went to pass, there was Andrew Sendejo and Mykel Kovar batting them away.
“Madison has a heckuva football team. We were pleased to get the win,” Smithson Valley coach Larry Hill said. “We knew they would make some plays — we just hoped we could answer them, and we did tonight.”
On offense, the first half belonged to the diminutive Trent Rios, who picked up 63 yards rushing, and receiver Clay Fuller, playing in his first game back since injury.
Trailing 7-0, Fuller’s 30-yard catch from quarterback Bryan Hill tied the game at 7-all just before the end of the first quarter. Chris Stehle’s block of Green’s 32-yard field goal try set up the Rangers for a 12-play, 60-yard series that culminated in David Sweet’s 26-yard field goal 19 seconds before halftime.
Before halftime, Rios went out with a knee and shoulder sprain. In came Sean Hall, who along with Cody McKinney picked up tough, clock-chewing runs that kept the Mavs off the field.
“If you’re an I-back team, you’re going to have to have a lot of I-backs,” Hill said. “And when the time comes, they’re going to have to step up, and Sean Hall did it tonight.”
McKinney bulled in for a 5-yard score that answered Caflisch’s long run, making it 17-14 with four minutes left in the third. Hall got the biggest chunk of his 59 yards on a 32-yard scoring run that made it 24-14 with 1:03 left in the frame.
Moczygemba’s sack of Caflisch forced a punt that set the Rangers up at their 45 with 8:13 left. McKinney’s second score capped a short series and gave the Rangers a 31-14 lead with 4:24 left.
Caflisch did have some magic left, as his 86-yard kickoff return set the table for another score by Green with 3:19 left. But the Rangers snared the onsides kick, and ran out the clock from there.
“We felt like we would have to have a couple of turnovers to have our best chance,” Madison coach Jim Streety said of the Rangers, which didn’t oblige in that area. “They played very well. We didn’t play too badly, but they played very, very well.
“When we went ahead 14-10, I thought their defense turned it up. They whipped us up front for a period of time. I thought in the first half we held our own pretty good, but after that. . . ”
According to league rules, the Rangers can share the title with the Mavs, provided both close with wins next week. Madison plays MacArthur. Hill’s Rangers close against brother Glenn’s Rough Riders.
And according to Moczygemba, that will also be a challenge.
“We’ve still got one more big game,” he said.