By DEREK LOPEZ
The Amherst Bulldogs varsity football team throttled the Claude Mustangs on Thursday night, 74-31, at Bulldog Stadium.
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 4-2 overall heading into district play.
Claude received to start the game and wasted no time finding the endzone, as they capped on a five-play, 60-yard opening drive, with a 36-yard touchdown run up the middle by Mathew Ryan. The snap on the kick was fumbled, but Luis Ortega was able to pick it up and scramble, finding Jayden Blandford for the one-point conversion, making the score, 7-0, with 7:23 remaining in the first quarter.
Amherst got a big return from junior, Jaime Garcia, on the kickoff, setting them up with a first and 15 from the Claude 32-yard line. Freshman, Diego Aguilar, got the carry on first down, picking up eight yards around the left side. Senior, Omar Reyes Jr., took the carry on the next play up the middle to set the Bulldogs up with first and goal from the eight-yard line. And, two plays later, Reyes punched it in for the eight-yard score. The snap on the kick was low and holder, Chris Gonzales hit Aguilar with a pass, but he was stopped short of the goal line, leaving the Mustangs in front, 7- 6, with 6:17 to pay in the first quarter
Ċlaude took over at their own 20-yard line after the kick-off, but their drive was derailed on second down, as a fumbled snap was recovered by Reyes with 5:34 to play in the quarter. The Bulldogs were unable to capitalize as they turned the ball over on downs with 3:11 remaining in the quarter, after a pass from Gonzales was incomplete down the near sideline looking for Jaime Garcia.
Claude took over at their own 29-yard line, but just two plays into the drive, the Bulldogs came away with another turnover, as Gonzales stripped the ball and returned it to the Mustangs’ eight-yard line, as Claude took a time out with 2:18 to play in the quarter.
Out of the break, Reyes carried the ball on two plays to set the Bulldogs up with fourth and goal from the six-yard line and Aguilar got the call on fourth down, starting to his right before cutting back to the left for the six-yard touchdown with 1:09 remaining in the quarter. Sophomore, Gabriel Garcia, had the kick after blocked to put Amherst out in front, 12-7.
Claude tookover and was able to run two plays before the end of the first quarter.
They began the second quarter with third and six at their own 26- yard line, as Ryan picked up five yards before being brought down by Gabriel Garcia, setting up a fourth and short. Spencer carried the ball up the middle on the dive for the Mustangs to move the chains, but the Mustangs stalled, and on fourth and 17, Ryan was stopped short of the sticks for a turnover on downs with 6:47 remaining in the first half.
Amherst took over at midfield, as Aguilar took the carry ahead for seven yards on first down. Reyes carried the ball around the left side taking it down to the Claude 25-yard line to move the chains for the Bulldogs. On first down, Gonzales overthrew Gabriel Garcia, but a tought carry by Reyes on second down resulted in a big gain for Amherst.
Reyes carried the ball once more on third down, taking it in for the 13-yard score. Gabriel Garcia’s kick was good making the score, 20-7, with 4:56 remaining in the half.
Claude recovered the onside kick at their own 30 and they were able to answer the score with a five-play, 50-yard drive, that was capped off when Moreno hit Sims on the Amherst sideline, who stiff armed Jaime Garcia on his way to a 34-yard touchdown with 2:47 remaining in the half. The snap on the kick was fumbled and the holder, Blandford was sacked by Juan Salas Jr., leaving the score, 20-13.
Amherst took over with under three minutes remaining in the second quarter, after Jaime Garcia returned the kick-off to near midfield.
Gonzales hit Gabriel Garcia for a seven-yard pass on first down and Reyes picked up seven more yards on the ground on second down to set up third and short. On the third down play, Reyes plowed ahead for a 27-yard touchdown run with 1:19 remaining in the half. The kick was good by Gabriel Garcia, extending their lead to, 28-13.
Claude would not go away as they took over with just over one minute remaining in the half, marching the ball deep into Amherst territory. With five seconds remaining in the half, Ryan scrambled for a touchdown run from inside the 10-yard line to trim the lead to, 28-19, heading into the locker room at halftime.
Amherst got the ball to begin the second half and they got a huge return from Aguilar who got loose down the Amherst sideline, setting the Bulldogs up with great field position at the Claude 28-yard line. They wasted no time finding the endzone, as Reyes followed a lead block by Gonzales on his way to a 28-yard touchown run with 9:42 to play in the third quarter. The kick by Gabriel Garcia was good, making the score, 36-19.
Claude turned the ball over on downs on their first possession of the second half with 7:28 to play in the quarter, giving Amherst the ball at their own 19-yard line.
Reyes and Aguilar carried the ball on back-to-back downs, but both were stopped for a loss backing them up to third and 22 from their own 12-yard line. On third down, Gonzales moved up in the pocket and flipped the ball to senior, Sergio Gonzales, to avoid a sack; he took it down the Amherst sideline for a huge gain, moving the chains for the Bulldogs.
With a first and 15 from the Claude 30-yard line, Reyes carried the ball for 10 yards around the left side and Aguilar picked up two yards on the next play to set them up with third and three from the 18-yard line. Reyes’ number was called on third down and he was able to pck up the first-down yardage, before being brought down by Ryan.
Reyes carried the ball again on first and goal, as Amherst took a time out with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter. Out of the break, Reyes took the pitch from Gonzales and hit Sergio Gonzales for the 13-yard touchdown pass with 2:45 remaining in the quarter. The kick by Gabriel Garcia was good, making the score, 44-19.
The Bulldog defense forced another turnover on downs on Claude’s next possession, as Moreno’s swing pass to Sims was stopped well short of the sticks with 1:11 to play in the quarter.
Amherst however was unable to capitalize, as they fumbled the snap on their first play of the next drive and it was recovered by TJ Ivy with 1:08 to play in the quarter.
Claude was unable to get anything going offensively, as Moreno’s pass on fourth down was incomplete intended for Spencer, turning the ball over on downs with 9:48 to play in the game.
Amherst took over at the Claude 20-yard line and after a time out with 8:24 remaining, they lined up to go for it on fourth and 12. Gonzales dropped back to pass and hit Reyes for the 17-yard touchdown with 8:18 to play in the game. The kick by Gabriel Garcia was no good, leaving the score, 50-19.
Claude took over at their own 25-yard line after the kick-off and were flagged for a false start to open the drive. On first and 20, though, Ryan connected with Spencer for a 60-yard touchdown pass to trim the lead to, 50-25, after the kick was blocked with 7:58 to play in the game.
Reyes covered the onside kickand Aguilar carried the ball on first and second down, as the Bulldogs took a time out with 6:49 to play in the game. Gonzales connected with Gabriel Garcia over the middle on third down for a big gain, setting them up with first and 15 from the Claude 24-yard line.
Aguilar carried the ball again on first down, but on the next play, the Bulldogs were flagged for delay of game, backing them up to second and 13. Reyes picked up a yard on second down and Gonzales’ pass to junior, Sebastian Garcia, fell incomplete, bringing up fourth down. They elected to go for it on fourth down and Reyes barreled ahead, plowing over a defender before reversing field and taking it into the endzone for the 15-yard touchdown with just under five minutes remaining in the game. The kick was good by Gabriel Garcia, making the score, 58-25.
Claude answered with a 52-yard touchdown scramble by Ryan to cut the lead to, 58-31, with 3:33 remaining in the contest.
On the following kick-off, Claude was flagged for a facemask penalty, setting the Bulldogs up with first and 15 from the Mustang’s 38-yard line. Sebastian Garcia carried the ball on a reverse on first down, but was stopped for a loss on the play.
On second and long, Reyes took the carry and shook off one would-be tackler, taking it ahead for a big gain to move the chains for Amherst. Aguilar carried the ball on back-to-back plays, capping off the drive with a 17-yard touchdown run with 1:42 left in the contest. The kick was good by Gabriel, pushing their lead to, 66- 31.
On the first play of the Mustang’s next possession, Moreno was picked off by Jaime Garcia, who took it 37-yards the other way for the pick-six to put the exclamation point on the contest. Gabriel Garcia’s pick was good, making the score, 74-31.
The Bulldogs will open district play next Friday against Lazbuddie at Bulldog Stadium.
Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.