Two special teams mistakes and a failed punt fake led to a 27-22 loss for the Madera South Stallions in its Div. VI first-round battle with Minarets.
Third-seeded Minarets started two drives at the Stallions’ 11, and another at the 27 for the win Friday against the 14th-seeded Stallions.
The upset-minded Stallions out gained Minarets, 224-108. In fact, the Stallions held Minarets to just 16 rushing yards. They sacked Minarets’ quarterback four times.
However, Minarets’ average starting field position was the Madera South 44 while Madera South’s average starting field position was its own 29.
John Ledesma led the Stallions’ offense. He gained 79 yards on the ground. However, he also lost 44 yards in sacks and another carry for a loss. Ledesma also threw for 167 yards.
Minarets only ran 25 plays in the game while the Stallions ran 60.
A sack by Elijah Chavez and a tackle for loss by A.J. Alvarez forced a Minarets three-and-out.
The Stallions went on a 13-play, 60-yard drive to get the first score of the game.
Ledesma ran for 11 on fourth-and-two. He hit Lucas Amesquita for 14 more to the Minarets 13.
Diego Reyna Navarro carried for four yards on fourth-and-two. On the next play, Reyna Navarro went up the middle, and broke to the left for a one-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead with four minutes left in the first quarter.
Sacks by Jonathan Buendia and Adam Sandez forced a Minarets punt. However, the Stallions were forced to punt from its own 11.
The snap to punter Orland Flores bounced to him. Flores picked up the ball, and threw it away to turn the ball over.
Minarets scored three plays later from the 11 to tie the game with nine minutes left in the half.
The Stallions got an initial first down on a Ledesma run, but was forced to punt. The snap went over Flores’ head. Flores was able to get the punt off, but it went for a loss of six at the Stallions’ 28.
Minarets scored on the next play, from 38 yards out, after a holding penalty, for a 15-7 lead with five minutes left in the half.
The Stallions drove down the field to try to tie the score. They drove 68 yards on 14 plays to inside the Minarets’ five. Ledesma hit King Travis for 15 yards, and a first down on third-and-10 to keep the driving going. Ledesma carried for five on third-and-two.
The Stallions got a first-and-goal from the nine. Reyna Navarro carried three times to the three. Ledesma got the call, and he tried to go around the right end, but was stuffed at the two to end the half.
After the Stallions went three-and-out to open the third, Minarets completed a quick pass to the 40-yard line. Madera South went for the pick, and missed, and Minarets went 65 yards for a touchdown. The point after run failed, but Minarets led 21-7.
The Stallions faced a third-and-19, and Ledesma was intercepted. Minarets returned the pick to the Stallions’ 11. The Mustangs scored three plays later. Sandez blocked the extra point, but Minarets led 27-7 with five minutes left in the third.
The Stallions got a 16-yard run from Ledesma to open the next drive. Ledesma gained three on fourth-and-two, and hit Buendia for 21 yards to the Minarets’ six.
After Ledesma was sacked, Reyna Navarro came in at quarterback while Ledesma lined up at receiver. Reyna Navarro floated a perfect pass for Ledesma in the end zone for the touchdown. Ledesma ran in the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 27-15 with a minute left in the third.
After the Stallions forced a punt, Madera South got a 19-yard pass to Buendia, but Ledesma was sacked to force a punt. The Stallions tried a fake punt at their own 27, but threw incomplete.
However, Minarets couldn’t capitalize, and turned the ball over on downs after Sandez stuffed the Mustangs for no gain on fourth-and-two.
Both teams traded punts, and the Stallions went on a long drive. Minarets picked off Ledesma on the first play of the drive, but a penalty nullified the pick-6.
The Stallions went on a 16-play drive that took most of the fourth quarter clock. Ledesma hit Sandez for six on third-and-five. Ledesma ran for seven on fourth-and-five, and Minarets was hit with a pass interference penalty on third-and-13.
A 33-yard pass to Travis put the ball on the nine. Three plays later, Ledesma scored with a second effort on a quarterback sneak over the pile for the touchdown. Flores’ kick cut the lead to 27-22 with 1:12 left.
However, Minarets recovered the onsides kick to preserve the win.