GONZALES — With the game on the line, Gonzales placekicker Luis Cabada calmly kicked the winning field goal as the final three seconds ran off the game clock, clinching the Spartans’ win against the King City Mustangs in the 94th Little Big Game on Friday night at War Memorial Stadium.
Gonzales head coach Eddy Ramirez was elated with the 24-23 victory and the resiliency of his Spartans team in the rivalry game.
“I’m happy we won, as this rivalry means a lot to us, but I’m especially proud because of the way we did it,” Ramirez said. “Our team stuck together throughout the whole game, when we could have broken down and turned on each other when King City took the lead, or when we made costly mistakes. We became tighter as a group and willed ourselves to victory on the leg of Luis Cabada.”
The Spartans took a 14-0 first quarter lead with a touchdown pass of five yards from quarterback Ray Blanco to Jayden Vasquez and another touchdown pass from Blanco to Alejandro Anguiano. Cabada was successful on both point after attempts.
While the Mustangs struggled offensively, they did make a defensive stand and chased Blanco into the endzone where Nathan Vega made a stop to score a safety to cut the lead to 14-2.
Gonzales padded the lead to 21-2 with a 13-yard pass play from Blanco to Vasquez and another PAT by Cabada.
The Mustangs completed the first half scoring with another defensive effort for another safety and a 40-yard touchdown pass from Mustang signal call Jesus Manriquez Jr. to Alexander Macias and a PAT by Johell Carrillo.
The half ended with Gonzales holding a 21-10 advantage.
“We were going in the game knowing we were going to get Gonzales’ best shot in the Little Big Game,” said King City head coach Mac Villanueva. “They came out early and established that. We just couldn’t avoid mistakes offensively from missed blocking assignments, errant snaps and turning the ball over. Defensively, we blew some coverages and didn’t tackle well in the first half. When you turn the ball over four times, you just don’t give yourself a good chance.”
The second half was a huge turnaround for the Mustangs as they scored on their first possession of the second half with a 84-yard pass from Manriquez to Macias and a PAT from Carrillo.
“We knew that was going to be our first play of the second half,” Villanueva said. “We would have ran that from the one-yard line as we were that confident we would hit it.”
Trailing 21-17 late in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs used the legs of Manriquez to manufacture some first downs to reach Gonzales’ end of the field.
With Gonzales keying on King City running back Carson Tidwell, Manriquez found running room up the middle of the field. The drive ended with Manriquez running in for a two-yard touchdown, and the Mustangs taking the lead 23-21 after a missed PAT, and less than two minutes left to play.
Before the kickoff, the Spartans received a break as the Mustangs were penalized 15 yards for taunting after their scoring drive and kicked off deep from their own territory. Gonzales secured the ball and had first down from their own 48 with 1:30 to play.
The Spartans didn’t waste a minute as Blanco threw to Anguiano for a 17-yard pass play and a third down, followed by a six-yard pass from Blanco to Vasquez. Gonzales then earned another first down on a 15-yard pass from Blanco to Aaron Hernandez. On first down, Blanco ran for five yards, followed by a nine-yard pass for a first down from Blanco to Anguiano.
On the reception to Anguiano, the receiver was stopped short of the goal line by the Mustang defense. Blanco then called his own number and appeared to score from the one, but the Spartans were called for pushing him into the endzone by the officials. From six yards back, Blanco ran for five yards but was stopped one yard short.
The Gonzales coaching staff then called their final timeout and sent in Cabada for the game-winner. As soon as the field went through and clock ran off the last three seconds, the Spartans team ran to the opposite side of the field to grab the coveted megaphone.
Cabada could barely contain himself with excitement after kicking the winning points.
“I was feeling adrenaline, I was feeling pumped,” Cabada said. “At the end of the day, it was just a normal kick for me. We were playing our hearts out and I would make every field goal if I had to if it was to win this game or any game.”
While Gonzales struggled running the ball, Blanco had a good game, passing for three touchdowns and 260 yards. Blanco also led the team with nine solo tackles and one fumble recovery.
Tony Garcia had a sack and a fumble recovery of his own, and teammates Gilbert Amador and Steven Santos each had an interception, while Bobby Bonilla and Jason Tejeda were tough in the defensive backfield.
“King City is our rival, and as rivals we want to beat them and we hate to lose to them,” Coach Ramirez said. “Coach Mac Villanueva is a classy individual and has coached his team well. They fought as hard as they could for four quarters and earned our respect. It’s going to be hard to put this game behind us, but we have to. We get an extra day to enjoy it and then league play begins.”
For King City, Manriquez passed for 169 yards and led the Mustangs with 70 rushing yards. On defense, Fabian Herrera had seven total tackles and two interceptions and Francisco Lopez had a sack in the end zone for a safety. Alex Macias had two receptions for 124 yards to lead the Mustangs.
“At the end of the night, Gonzales just ended up making one more play than we did,” Coach Villanueva said. “Definitely the most exciting Little Big Game that I’ve been a part of. Congratulations to Coach Ramirez, his staff and his players.”
In the junior varsity contest, Jojo Saucedo rushed in the lone touchdown as Gonzales defeated the Broncos, 7-0. King City was driving at the end of the game and was inside the 10-yard line when Efrain Oliva came up with a forced fumble and recovery to seal the win for Gonzales.
“The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage opening big running lanes for the running backs,” said Gonzales JV head coach Jimmy Carrillo. “The line also gave quarterback Noah Rodriguez time in the pocket to find receivers down field and move the chains in key situations.”
The Gonzales JV team improved to 3-1 after the victory.
