Aztecs keep playoff hopes alive
Photo Credit: Shelby Grimnes
Alex Bernal
October 25, 2009
Filed under Sports
The Corona del Sol Aztecs had a late start to their season but are keeping their playoff hopes alive with a big win against the Basha Bears, 27-24 on Friday, Oct. 23.
“Basha was cocky and came out acting like they were going to kill us, and they didn’t know what hit them,” Corona middle linebacker/tight end Kyle Benson said.
Corona got on the board with a 62-yard touchdown from quarterback Chase Cartwright to wide receiver Billy Johnson to trail Basha, 9-7 in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, kicker Dylan Harris hit a 27-yard field goal and later in the quarter, Cartwright had a 1-yard run into the end zone to put Corona up 17-9 before halftime.
In the fourth quarter, Cartwright completed a 12-yard pass to tight end Sebastian Bernal for a touchdown. Harris then kicked his second field goal from 44 yards away. With just seconds remaining in the game, defensive lineman Zac Jubie sacked Basha quarterback Mike Benjamin to end the game at 27-24.
“It was the best feeling I’ve ever had playing football,” Johnson said. “It was a huge game for us to win at the end like that. It was insane.”
The Aztecs, now 3-5, have two games remaining against Dobson and Highland. The Dobson game will be televised on Cox channel 7.
“We need to basically play like we have two games left, and not play down to other team’s levels,” Johnson said.
If Corona wins its next two games, it will have a shot at the 5A Division I state playoffs.
“We’re not going to do anything different this week,” Cartwright said. “Just keep the mentality that it’s our last chance at achieving something much greater than what we’ve shown thus far this season.”
