Morgan Hill – The showdown with the 2-3 East Bay East Wildcats
started off with the teams trading blows and not gaining much
ground.
Morgan Hill – The showdown with the 2-3 East Bay East Wildcats started off with the teams trading blows and not gaining much ground.
A nearly even first quarter ended at 0-0, but East Bay East on the doorstep of the end zone, and two minutes into the second quarter the Wildcats punched it in.
As the Raiders started to make some progress, a fumble ended the threat.
The Raider defense held, led by Mitchell Crowley, Kyle Quadros and Andrew Knight, and the Raiders ran another perfectly executed fake punt by Trevor Bearden to give Morgan Hill a first down.
The Raiders controlled the ball, making a little progress, but ran out of time and headed into the half down 7-0.
The second half did not start well for the Raiders.
The Wildcats took the kick off and went 67 yards in four and half minutes, scoring on a 28-yard counter that fooled the Raider defense.
In an effort to make up the 13 point difference the Raiders went to the air, but the first of two interceptions by the Wildcats ended the threat.
Fortunately, the Raiders Joseph Rodriguez landed on a fumble on the Raiders’ 18-yard line, stopping the Wildcats march.
After digging out of their own end, the Raiders fumbled on their own 36, leaving the Wildcats another short field at the start of the fourth quarter.
An inspired Raiders defense was not to be denied.
With the Wildcats on the Raiders 18-yard line, Joey Rodriguez stuck the Wildcats half back, Brandon Duran, high, knocking the ball loose and Crowley fell on it.
The Raiders looked to the air, but the combined throws of Taylor Turnipseed and Kyle Quadros could not muster any yardage.
In all the Raiders were frustrated by the very fast and physical wildcats.
The defense had to rise to the occasion and spent 25 minutes on the field.
Crowley was in on 15 tackles, Jacob Le Don 12, Quadros 11, Knight 10, and Paul Salinas-Ruiz nine.
Taylor Turnipseed led all Raider rushers with just 37 yards.
