Scoring drought ends; first Casa win

When the scoring drought ended for Casa Grande’s varsity football Gauchos Friday night, they rained touchdowns all over Ukiah’s homecoming festivities.

After scoring just four touchdowns in its previous five games, the Gauchos busted loose for four in the first half Friday night in Ukiah on their way to a 47-0 victory that was so dominating that a running clock was used in the fourth quarter.

The win was the first, not just in North Bay League play, but on the season for the Gauchos. Ukiah is now also 1-5 for the year.

“We’re getting better,” said Casa Grande coach Trent Herzog.

“They (the Gauchos) never quit. They always knew what they could do.”

The win was the result of many parts of the Gaucho squad coming together to function as a team. That being said, many of those parts had exceptional games.

Sophomore running back Spencer Torkelson went beyond potential to productive with a 158-yard ground game that included two touchdowns.

Senior Jaleel Lawson scored from both sides of scrimmage, returning a pass interception 60 yards for a touchdown and snaring a JJ Anderson pass in stride and taking it 18 yards for another score.

Anderson continued his growth as a varsity quarterback, completing eight of 11 passes for 100 yards.

Herzog also noted the contribution of a not-so-apparent player. “Semi Komaaisavai really got us going,” the coach said. “He brought an energy to the team that got us fired up. Komaaisavai also brought speed to both the offense and defense. A transfer, who began his athletic career as a rugby player in Fiji, he made several strong plays on defense.

He was one of many defensive Gauchos who contributed to make it a frustrating night for the super-sized Ukiah offense,

All the suspense was taken out of the game early. After Casa Grande had provided its host the courtesy of a first down in the game’s opening possession, the Gauchos struck with a lightning bolt named Kevin Donohoe, who sprang through a huge hole to race 65 yards for the first of Casa’s string of touchdowns.

On Ukiah’s next possession, Lawson received Wildcat quarterback Will Thom-King’s pass, and went the other way 60 yards for a second Casa Grande touchdown within the space of a minute.

Before the first quarter had finished, Lawson caught another touchdown pass, this one from his own quarterback. Anderson’s pass hit the receiver perfectly in stride, and he was untouched on his way to an 18-yard score. Casa was put in position for the touchdown by a 27-yard burst by Torkelson.

Casa tacked on 10 more points before the half, getting three on a 39-yard field goal by Matt Abramo and six on Torkelson’s 11-yard scamper following his own 33-yard run to set up the touchdown.

Abramo later added a 44-yard field goal that had enough distance to carry at least 20 yards further. By the end of the game, Anson Morales was getting a chance to kick.

He missed his first PAT attempt following Torkelson’s touchdown, but later found the range and booted home two conversions.

The first of Morales’ successful kicks came just two plays into the second half when Casey Longaker, as always a standout on defense, had a chance to shine on the other side of scrimmage, breaking loose for a 46-yard touchdown gallop.

Before Herzog turned the game over to the Gaucho reserves, Torkelson capped off his big night with a 16-yard touchdown run.

Ukiah, battling to the end, took up much of the fast-moving final period with a drive that moved it from its own 25 into Casa territory before time expired on a very enjoyable trip for the Gauchos.

Casa Grande’s junior varsity lost the wild preliminary game to the Ukiah JVs, 21-20.

Ukiah drove 90 yards in the fourth quarter to score with just 43 seconds remaining to take a 21-14 lead.

Casa Grande, helped by a halfback pass from Steven Aguilar, struck right back to tie the game on a pass from quarterback Garrett Buffo to Brenden Keefer with no time left on the clock.

Casa tried for a game-winning two-point conversion, but failed, giving Ukiah the win.