SALINAS VALLEY — A strong defensive showing and a proficient offense earned the King City Mustangs football team a 35-0 shutout victory over the Gonzales Spartans during last Thursday’s 94th Annual Little Big Game at War Memorial Stadium in King City.
The win was the Mustangs’ second-straight Little Big Game blanking of the Spartans.
King City quarterback Rocky Vasquez had one of his best games ever with a four-of-six passing night for 139 yards and two touchdowns. JC Navarro scored a rushing touchdown, caught another and finished with 16 rushing yards. Standout running back Carson Tidwell rushed for 122 yards on 16 carries for the Mustangs.
“I was happy with Vasquez’s play at quarterback last night,” said Mustang head coach Mac Villanueva. “He improved greatly from our Week One games against Greenfield. He distributed the ball well last night.”
Defensively, the Mustangs received great efforts from linebackers Rocky Villanueva and Nathan Vega, as well as Navarro at defensive back.
King City scored the first points of the game at the 7:53 mark of the first quarter with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Vasquez to receiver Kody Lambert and a point-after attempt by Bryan Gonzales. Vega scored the second touchdown of the night on a six-yard run, and Gonzales completed the score with his second PAT for a 14-0 King City lead.
The first half ended with an electrifying pass play of 53 yards from Vasquez to Navarro that put the home side on their feet. The third PAT of the half from Gonzales gave King City a 21-0 halftime lead.
A five-play drive in the third quarter ended with a 10-yard pass for a score from Vasquez to Navarro at the 4:19 mark of the third quarter, giving the Mustangs an insurmountable 27-0 advantage. Gonzales’ fourth PAT padded the lead to 28-0.
Tidwell completed the scoring at the 10:59 mark of the fourth quarter with a rushing touchdown of 37 yards. Gonzales finished the 35-0 game with his fifth successful PAT.
The contest was called at the 9:47 mark of the final quarter when Spartan running back Leo Nunez-Perez was injured and had to be taken to a local hospital.
Gonzales head coach Eddy Ramirez has hopes that his team will recover from injuries they have battled early to start the season.
“We have a lot to learn, and we have a week to recover,” Ramirez said. “All we can do is get healthy and prepare for league play.”
Ramirez praised the play of Spartan quarterback Jeffrey Schweitzer for running the offense and Ryan Maciel for his defensive work.
Gonzales (0-3) will have a bye week next week and return to action on Sept. 18 against the Seaside Spartans at Dick Force Stadium.
Next Saturday, the 2-0 Mustangs will travel to Santa Cruz County to battle the 0-2 San Lorenzo Valley Cougars in Felton.
“I know SLV is off to a 0-2 start, but they are the reigning Mission North champs,” said Coach Villanueva. “It should be a good test.”
