GONZALES — Fourth quarter fireworks by the Gonzales Spartan football team led to a 34-23 victory over host Pacific Grove that snapped a 15-game losing streak to the Breakers last Friday at Breaker Stadium.
The victory helped the Spartans improve to 2-0 in non-league play.
Gonzales took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a 21-yard pass play from quarterback Jayson Flores to Dominic Emery. Flores entered the game early in the first quarter as starter Raul Morales left the game after rolling his ankle. The Breakers matched the touchdown with a three-yard scoring run by Anthony DaSilva but were unsuccessful on a two-point conversion play and left the Spartans clinging to a 7-6 lead.
The second quarter saw the Breakers take a 13-7 lead on 37-yard touchdown run by DaSilva and a PAT by Sergi Mendoza. Spartan running back Payton Flores, the brother of Jayson Flores, caught a pass from the newly inserted back-up quarterback to cut the lead to tie the game at 13-13. Gonzales placekicker Franky Cisneros gave Gonzales the lead at 14-13.
The host Breakers ended the first half scoring by regaining the lead at 16-14 with a 32-yard field goal by Mendoza.
“When we lost Raul (Scooter) Morales on the second offensive series that completely changed our game plan,” said Gonzales head coach Arthur Berlanga. “Jayson Flores did a good job executing our offense and even though he a sophomore and really young kid he made some big play and became a leader for us. It helped too that his brother Payton was having another good game offensively. On the defensive side of the ball Michael Duby had 11 tackles at safety and Pablo Villasenor had 11 tackles at defensive end.”
In the third quarter Payton Flores scored on an 11-yard run as Gonzales took the lead at 21-16 with his score and another PAT by Cisneros. Minutes later Breaker quarterback Freddy Albert threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to receiver John Kerick. Mendoza then booted the PAT and the host team led 23-21 going into the final quarter.
A 69-yard touchdown run by Payton Flores and the PAT by Cisneros gave the Spartans the lead at 28-23. The touchdown and field position were set up by a fierce pass rush by defensive tackle Pablo Villasenor that forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive end Miguel Arreola. After the score Coach Berlanga called for an on-side kick. Cisneros kicked the ball right at the Breakers and the ball was recovered by Emery.
On the last scoring drive of the evening Payton Flores threw a pass from power and connected with Emery for a 28-yard touchdown pass play. Cisneros went wide on the kick but the Spartans held a eleven point lead at 34-23 with just minutes to play.
Payton Flores led the Spartans with 294 passing yards on 33 carries and scored two touchdowns and threw one touchdown pass. His brother Jayson was six of 11 in his varsity debut for 97 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Emery led all receivers with five receptions for 110 yards and scored two touchdowns.
“Our seniors were just two-years-old when the losing streak started against PG,” said Berlanga. “The sophomores on our team were not even born at that time. The win was good but not we have to get ready to play a good Soledad team. It is going to be an entertaining game and we will have to play good football to beat them. We have a bye after the Soledad and then we will go right into league.”
In the JV contest, the Spartababes defeated the Breakers by a 46-6 score. Running back Joseph Bermudez scored two rushing touchdowns and one touchdown on a pass from quarterback Jacob Valdez who scored on a rushing touchdown. Backup quarter back Jose DeLeon scored two touchdowns.
“We are running the ball really well and we are still learning the game,” said Gonzales JV head coach Ruben Alvarado. “Offensively our passing game has to be more efficient. Isaiah Castillo played well at linebacker and Beto Garcia had a good game at defensive end. This week we play Soledad and we know they will have a lot of players and we have to put together a good plan to beat them.”
