The Española Sundevils (2-3) won versus Gallup (0-5) in a straight-forward smackdown of the Bengals on Friday. There were more interceptions thrown by Gallup than completions. The final score was 57-0 for Española’s homecoming.
On the first Española drive, the Sundevils ran it on every play and got a touchdown out of it. On the second drive, sophomore quarterback Irvin Promero threw a 34-yard bomb to Kevin Coffeen making it 14-0 over the Bengals.
Even with a two possession lead, Española coach Tylon Wilder was laying into his defense for miscues that allowed Gallup to run outside of the hash marks east to west and vice versa or miscues that allowed the athletic Bengals quarterback Jordan Stewart to gain big yards on quarterback keepers. The playcall for Gallup was almost exclusively those two type of plays.
The Sundevils soon cracked down on the predictable Bengals offense. Shortly after Wilder’s reproaches, Española deflected a pass which was then picked off for a pick-six, making it 21-0 in favor of the Sundevils.
Española racked up 35 points in the first quarter. Although they scored fewer points in the second quarter it was more of a dominating performance as the Bengals were neutralized on all fronts. Whatever the Wilder game plan was, the players on the sidelines were all in agreement that they should go out and hit somebody. That aggression paid dividends on defense.
On offense, they were firing on all cylinders. Alex Chavez had an impressive 25 yard rushing touchdown, while receiver Abraham Tamayo pulled down a 26-yard touchdown.
On one of their few fourth downs, Española was considering punting, but a couple of Sundevils looked at Wilder and said the word train. Wilder took a timeout and in the huddle some of the players yelled “they don’t want this smoke!”
With a 4th-and-long and in their own half, Española busted out their train formation, a pride formation with nary a receiver in sight. Not adjusting to the situation, the Bengals remained in a regular 3-4 and were bullied out of the way and Adrick Deleon proceeded to run the ball for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Wilder talked to the Rio Grande Sun about this pivotal moment that helped ensure a speedy 58-0 mercy rule victory by halftime.
“When we get in that information, it’s coming, it’s train, Woo! Woo! So that’s all about pride for us. And you know, the kids, I don’t like doing that type of stuff, you know, fourth and long and our own territory or whatever, but the kids are like ‘we got it coach we’ve got it we can do it.’ And I’m like, ‘Alright, it’s on you but defense better step up.”
Standout Sundevils kicker Andres Valenzuela hit all seven of his PATs and didn’t have to worry about nailing a single field goal on the night. Deleon had a monstrous 182 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
The only negative in the blowout win was that quarterback Irvin Primero only got to step back in the pocket to attempt a pass a total of four times in the game.