ALAMOSA – After playing on a neutral field last week, the Alamosa High School football team played on their home field for the first time this season as the Mean Moose hosted Banning Lewis Prep Academy Friday at the AHS stadium.
The Mean Moose dominated the game, especially on defense. They forced the Stallions into six turnovers with most of them being converted into points.
“That’s big time,” said Alamosa coach Drew Sandlin. “Any time the defense creates turnovers, it makes the offense a lot easier. It makes it easy on me, the quarterback and everyone involved.”
Banning Lewis had the ball first and the defense wasted little time getting its first takeaway. In fact, the Mean Moose scored on the play as Stallion quarterback Sam Early mishandled the snap deep in his own territory. He pitched it into the end zone hoping to salvage only a safety, but Zane Zook scooped up the ball just before it went over the end line for a touchdown. Ryan Higareda kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The next takeaway came on the ensuing kickoff. Jordan Jones returned the kick 46 yards, but he fumbled and the Mean Moose recovered.
Two plays later, Dyson Woodward tossed a 41-yard touchdown to Kevin Gonzanes. The point-after attempt was blocked but the score stood at 13-0.
Banning Lewis fumbled the ball away on its next possession. Once again, the Mean Moose turned the turnover into points as Woodward went into the end zone on a 2-yard quarterback keeper. Higareda’s point after attempt was unsuccessful.
The Moose got another turnover late in the first quarter. However, they came up empty on that drive as Jones intercepted Woodward.
Griego got his second pick two plays later. Alamosa again got points out of the takeaway as Woodward threw a 13-yard scoring strike to Higareda. Higareda again booted the extra point and the Mean Moose had a 26-0 lead.
Alamosa got one more score before halftime as Higareda kicked a 30-yard field goal and the Mean Moose had a 29-0 lead at halftime.
Alamosa scored the first time it had the ball in the second half. Higareda put the Mean Moose into scoring position with a 57-yard kickoff return, and Zook scored his second touchdown, this time a 34-yard run. Higareda again made the extra point and Alamosa led 36-0.
The Stallions had its best chance at scoring on their next possession as they drove to the Alamosa 30. But a personal foul penalty moved Banning Lewis back and it turned the ball over on downs.
The Mean Moose got one more score in the quarter as A.J. Baker ran in a 2-yard touchdown. Higareda again kicked the point-after for a 43-0.
The fourth quarter was played under a running clock, but Alamosa managed two more scores. The Stallions were backed up to their own 4 and were in a punting situation. The long snapper put the ball over the punter’s head and out of the end zone for a safety.
Alamosa got one more touchdown on the last play of the game as Griego ran in a 5-yard quarterback keeper.
Alamosa rolled up 343 yards of total offense. 244 of the yards were in the running game with Zook leading the way with 109 yards on 12 carries. Woodward ran for 81 yards on eight carries, and Griego had 47 yards on three carries.
Woodward completed six out of 15 passes for 99 yards. Gonzales was the leading receiver with three catches for 74 yards and Higareda had two receptions for 18 yards.
The Mean Moose defense held Banning Lewis to 91 total yards – 58 rushing and 33 passing.
Alamosa (2-0) will go on the road for the first time on Thursday as they will face Pueblo Central. The Wildcats defeated the Mean Moose in each of the previous two seasons.
“They’re a powerhouse,” Sandlin said. “We’re going to be on our game and we have to play our best football all year long. But we’ll get after it this week and we’ll get better.”
The game will be played at historic Dutch Clark Stadium with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.
Alamosa 51, Banning Lewis 0
Banning Lewis 0 0 0 0 – 0
Alamosa 19 10 14 8 – 51
First quarter
A – Zook recovered fumble in end zone (Higareda kick), 11:12
A – Gonzales 41 pass from Woodward (kick blocked), 9:38
A – Woodward 2 run (kick failed), 0:23
Second quarter
A – Higareda 13 pass from Woodward (Higareda kick), 8:42
A – Higareda 30 FG, 4:39
Third quarter
A – Zook 34 run (Higareda kick), 10:38
A – Baker 2 run (Higareda kick), 0:00
Fourth quarter
A – Safety, ball went out of back of end zone, 7:12
A – Griego 5 run, 0:00
