Sometimes what looks like a mismatch on paper proves to be a mismatch on the field. That was the case Aug. 28 when Española Valley, a Class AAAA school, shut out Dulce, a Class AA school, 32-0 in Dulce.
Española quickly established its dominance after receiving the opening kickoff. The Sundevils marched 65 yards to the end zone with senior quarterback Isaiah Serrano tossing a 15-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Jared Daniels.
Fullback Logan Sapcut finished off Española’s next drive with a one-yard run and Sean Salazar booted the extra point for a 13-0 Española lead. Still in the first quarter, tailback Estevan Borrego scored the Sundevils third touchdown on a 30-yard run to make the score 19-0 in favor of the Sundevils.
The second quarter didn’t start out any better for the Hawks, as Sundevils tailback Zac Smith ran six yards for another touchdown with 7:20 left in the first half. Chris Watson, part of Española’s running back by committee, scored the Sundevils’ fifth and final touchdown with 4:04 left in the first half on a 14-yard run to make the score 32-0. Sundevils’ coach Bill Moon stuck with second- and third-string players for the rest of the first half and most of the second half.
“I will not humiliate someone else’s children,” Moon said. “In the short run, a game like this may hurt us, but in the long run it will really help our program because we can get our freshmen some good experience.”
Dulce fielded a roster of only 20 players compared with Española’s 49 and has just two seniors in quarterback Jarrett Vigil and receiver Chandler Eloté. Vigil and freshman running back Darrell Vicenti were both knocked out of the game, but later returned to action.
“I seen that my kids have no fear in them, no quit in them,” Dulce coach Jesus Maes said. “A couple of mistakes cost us those first two touchdowns, but we’re young and going to make mistakes.”
Five of Dulce’s eight freshmen started the game, Maes said.
Española threw three passes on its opening drive, then threw none for the rest of the game.
“You don’t pass when you’ve got the other guy down,” Moon said.
Dulce will face rival Escalante Friday in Dulce. The Class A Lobos were coached by Maes last season and he is looking forward to the game.
“That will be exciting,” Maes said. “I’m really, really proud of these guys and I know they’re going to give 100 percent.”