Home
News
Sports
Video
Obituaries
Classifieds
Just TV
Clovis Christian kept it simple Friday night. Real simple.
It was Mike Urioste right, Mike Urioste left, Mike Urioste pretty much wherever he wanted to go.
The senior running back carried on 15 of CCS’ 17 plays on offense, accounting for nine touchdowns and 360 yards as the top-ranked Eagles routed Hondo 63-12 in a 6-man state semifinal game at Jim Hill Field.
The game, delayed just over 30 minutes when one of the light standards was out, ended at halftime on the 45-point lead rule. CCS (9-0), which beat Hondo 48-0 earlier in the season, advances to the 6-man championship game next weekend against either Roy or Lake Arthur, who meet today.
Urioste’s final touchdown came as time expired, a 71-yard run after the Eagles had taken a knee on the previous play and Hondo (5-5) called a timeout with five seconds left.
The Eagles were without junior running back-defensive back Kevin Naceanceno (broken thumb). Coach Jason Swann said he thinks Naceanceno could be fitted with a protective cast and possibly play in the championship game.
The idea was to keep things simple and not show much for whoever the Eagles play next week, Swann said.
“We have 10 plays (in the playbook) and I think we ran seven of them,” he said. “We executed well, and when you do that it all works out.”
Actually, the game didn’t start out that well for the Eagles as Hondo recovered an onside kick on the opening kickoff. But a three-and-out followed, and junior Kenny Duong blocked a punt to give CCS possession at the Hondo 12.
Urioste scored from the 3 on the second play, and the rout was on.
Hondo controlled the ball for eight plays on its next possession before turning it over on downs at its 27. Urioste went off the right side to score on the next play for a 14-0 lead.
Two more Hondo possessions ended on downs, and Urioste added TD runs of 27 and 39 yards. He ran for his third and fourth PATs to make it 28-0 at the end of the first quarter.
“We stuck in the I-formation the whole time, and ran the same plays a lot,” Urioste said. “Our line was great tonight, and (fullback) Mike Root was blocking great.”
Duong’s second block punt resulted in a safety early in the second quarter, and Urioste four more TDs and three more PAT runs.
Hondo’s points came on a 29-yard field goal by Arturo Gonzales and a 3-yard pass from Luis Montano to Roberto Nores.
“Defensively, we held them to 12 points without Kevin,” Swann said. “I’m proud of our boys. Every one of them stepped up this game.”
