The Olton Mustangs’ varsity football team held off the Bovina Mustangs on the road on Friday, 26-20, to improve to 3-1 overall on the season.
The Mustangs totaled 368 yards of offense, including 327 rushing yards and 41 passing yards.
Isaiah Ruiz got the Mustangs going in the first quarter with a four-yard rushing touchdown, but the PAT by Fabian Gutierrez was no good, leaving the score, 6-0. later in the quarter, junior quarterback, Raymond Ramirez, broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run, but the PAT by Gutierrez was again no good, leaving the score, 12-0.
Bovina would respond later in the first quarter, as they scored on a 33-yard touchdown pass, followed by the two-point conversion to cut the lead to, 12-8, as the first quarter came to a close.
In the second frame, Raymond Ramirez connected with Eddie Ramirez for a 13-yard passing touchdown. Raymond Ramirez hit Alan Vasquez on the twopoint conversion to extend their lead to, 20-8. However, Bovina would answer again later in the second quarter, as they scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass, but they failed on the two-point conversion, leaving the score, 20-14, going into the locker room at halftime.
Neither team would scratch any points across in the third quarter, and in the final frame Isaiah Ruiz would rush for a three-yard touchdown, making the score, 26-14, after the failed two-point conversion. Bovina would return a fumble for a touchdown, but failed on the two-point conversion, as Olton held on to take the contest, 2620.
Offensively, Ramirez finished the game six-of-12 passing for 41 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He also added 21 carries for 106 yards and a score on the ground.
The running game was led by Isaiah Ruiz, who finished with 17 carries for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Fabian Gutierrez also added 10 carries for 39 yards, while Nathaniel Ruiz chipped in two carries for nine yards.
Eddie Ramirez led the Mustang receivers with two catches for 17 yards and a score, while Sebastian Sparkman caught one pass for eight yards and Jimmy Munoz and Nate Urbina each caught one pass for seven yards.
Defensively, Jacob Marquez led the team team in tackles with 11 and had one sack. Vasquez chipped in four total tackles and two sacks, while Eddir Medrano contributed three tackles and a sack. Gutierrez added four total tackles, including two for loss.
The Mustangs are open this weekend and will close out the pre-district schedule on Sept. 29th when they take on the Vega Longhorns for Homecoming.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.