Huskies overtake Pirates

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Hope Huskies proved too strong for the young GHS Pirates, who were on the road for a third Friday in a row, as they defeated the Pirates 69-29.

“It wasn’t necessarily the outcome we were looking for as we felt we could’ve won this game, but we continue to see encouraging steps being taken by this young team,” said GHS head football coach Brandon Hernandez. “Our offense put up 29 points this week against a tough Hope Christian squad. They’re big, strong, and athletic upfront.”

The Pirates were able to rally and score two touchdowns at end of fourth quarter. After a Husky fumble, Alfonso “A.J.” Kester, a sophomore backup quarterback, handed off to Mathew “The Bus” Valdo who scored a short three-yard touchdown to make the score 62-21 after the extra point kick. The Huskies answered back with their final touchdown kick return and extra point kick to make the score 69-21.

The Pirates were not done yet, Kester rushed in another four-yard run in a quarterback keeper for another Pirate touchdown, “I could hear the coaches yell, ‘GO GO,’” said Kester of that touchdown. Kester later threw a spiral to Manuel Gonzales for the two-point conversion.

Prior to the fourth quarter the Pirates trailed the Huskies 10-0 in the first quarter as the Huskies scored a 44-yard touchdown with the extra point kick good. In the second quarter the Pirates started out with a touchdown fouryard rush touchdown by senior William Archuleta, to make the score 10-6 after a failed two-point conversion.

“It felt good to get my first touchdown as a Pirate,” said Archuleta of the touchdown.

The Huskies quarterback James Jenkins ran in a 54 yard quarterback keeper to make the score 17-6 Huskies. Pirate quarterback Tyler Everhart hit receiver Knight Long for a 45 yard pass for his first Pirate touchdown followed up by a two point conversion by Mathew Valdo to make the score 17-14

“We’ve been waiting for the Knight Breakthrough,” said Hernandez of that touchdown.

With five minutes left on the clock Jenkins again rushed for a 33 yard touchdown with an extra point to make the score 24-14. The Huskies recovered a fumble by the Pirates at the 24 yard line and subsequently Jenkins ran in a 24 yard touchdown and a two point conversion to make the score 32-14. The Huskies went on to score two more touchdowns and a safety to make the halftime score 48-14 with the Huskies on top.

“We spoke about our defensive and offensive adjustments, but the talk revolved around us finishing the game--play through it,” said Hernandez of his halftime talk with the team.

The Pirates held up the Huskies until late in the third quarter when the Huskies scored a touchdown and extra point to make the score 55-14 at the end of that quarter. Early in the 4th quarter the Huskies made a touchdown to make the score 62-14 just before Kester entered the game.

The Pirates threw four interceptions, one fumble and seven penalties for 65 yard in that game

“The big thing is, we gave up 69 points. It’s going to be tough to win ball games with that high of a point total…it’s not just on our defense and I want to emphasize that,” said Hernandez. “Field position definitely plays a role in how many points are given up, so we have to do a better job offensively and on special teams to ensure that we put our defense in a position to succeed.”

Hernandez and the Pirates are currently 1-4 and will take another bus ride this Friday to Kirtland Central who are also 1-4.

“Kirtland looks to spread the field offensively, much like we do. They base out of a 4-4 defense with a single high safety,” said Hernandez of that upcoming contest. “For us, it’s simple. It’s time to get back to work. We were in the weight room as a team at 5:30 am Monday morning.”