Stallions do just enough for win

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

Madera South senior Jacob Edwards runs by a defender during Friday’s win over McLane on Senior Night.

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The Madera South Stallions football team got plenty of support from its defense and special teams and enough from the offense for a 24-16 victory over the McLane Highlanders on Senior Night.

The Stallions’ defense held the Highlanders to just 139 yards of total offense, including 41 on the ground in Friday’s victory. The Stallions’ defensed forced five three-and-outs from the Highlanders.

“Our defense responded to the challenge and flied around. We held their big player in check,” head coach Matt Johnson said.

Angelo Moreno led the Stallions with 111 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns. Erik Cervantes rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

“This group has confidence they can overcome any bad night and they did it. They responded to it I loved it,” Johnson said.

The Stallions closed the game with three unanswered scores for the win.

“We made some offensive coaching blunders to keep those guys around. That game had to turn around at halftime,” Johnson said. “We really dug in in the second half. We worked on our game plan all week and was prepared for them for what they needed to do.”

The Stallions got on the scoreboard on their second possession of the game after the first of McLane’s three-and-outs.

Madera South drove 57 yards on 10 plays for the first score, all on runs. After a penalty, Moreno gained 11 yards on third-and-10 to the McLane 23.

Moreno gained seven to the 16-yard line. Angel Moreno gained another seven yards. Angelo Moreno carried the ball to the three and Cervantes closed the drive out with the touchdown run.

The Highlanders converted a fourth down on their next drive, but couldn’t convert on the second fourth down.

The teams exchanged three straight three-and-outs before the Highlanders scored on a four-play drive. They converted the two-point attempt for an 8-6 lead at the half.

After a trade in possessions to open the second half, Cervantes got the crowd on its feet with a 41-yard run, but it was called back by a penalty. Two plays later, Isaiah Ford was stripped of the ball and McLane returned it the other way for a 26-yard fumble return touchdown. The two-point conversion was good and McLane led 16-7.

The Stallions didn’t go away. Jacob Edwards returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards to inside McLane territory. Moreno gained 15 on the first play. From the 15-yard-oline, Moreno gained eight, followed by Cervantes for four. Moreno finished the drive from three yards out. The point after was blocked and Madera South trailed 16-12.

After a McLane three-and-out, the Stallions took advantage of a 28-yard punt. Runs by Moreno and Cervantes gained 16-yards. Cervantes gained five and a McLane penalty gave the Stallions the ball at the 12.

Three plays later, Cervantes scored on the second play of the fourth quarter for an 18-16 lead.

McLane had trouble on the ensuing kickoff and Esteban Castaneda recovered it for the Stallions at the McLane 13. Quarterback Ahmed Sharhan gained seven and Moreno finished the drive with a six-yard touchdown. The pass conversion failed, but Madera South led 24-16.

McLane had its longest drive of the game, going from its own 14 to inside Madera South territory. However, a penalty and a run for a loss forced the Highlanders to punt on fourth-and-25.

The Stallions went three-and-out and forced the Highlanders to turn the ball over on downs. Madera South ran out the clock for a 24-16 win.