October 11,2005
SPORTSThunderbird football gaining momentum
After winning three of its first four games, the Mesa football team is poised to make a push for a bowl game appearance.
“My main goal for the team this year is to make the Valley of the Sun Bowl game,” said Dan Dunn, head coach of the Thunderbirds.
A bid to the Valley of the Sun Bowl goes to the team with the best record in the Western States Football League and puts them up against one of the top junior college teams in the nation. Last year, the Thunderbirds only won six games and missed out on a bowl game.
The first conference game this season against No. 2 ranked Dixie State College in Utah on Sept. 17, was a chance for the Thunderbirds to show they have improved.
Mesa out gained Dixie State in total yardage, 287 to 173, and had possession of the ball for nearly 40 minutes of the hour-long contest, but came up short on the score board 17 points to 27 points.
The statistical domination by Mesa was hampered by mental mistakes and an inability to put the ball in the end zone.
The Mesa offensive line also had problems protecting the quarterback, allowing eight sacks that forced the Mesa quarterbacks to make bad decisions and throw two interceptions.
Vincent and Victor Anderson were the stars for the Thunderbird offense in this game, each scoring a touchdown.
And the Mesa defense impressed by holding Dixie State’s All-American running back, J.T. Diederich, to just 68 yards on 21 carries, well below his seven yard per carry average in previous games.
The following week, Mesa rebounded by handing New Mexico Military Academy a 28-14 defeat.
The Thunderbirds put on a strong defensive showing in the first half of the game, limiting New Mexico to 31 total yards, two first downs and forcing two turnovers.
The offense looked equally crisp in the first half compiling 171 yards of total offense, scoring one touchdown and setting up their kicker, Andrew Stricklin, for two field goals.
If not for a lapse on special teams that allowed New Mexico a 101 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Mesa would have held New Mexico scoreless in the half.
The second half was another story for the Thunderbird defense, which surrendered 231 yards rushing and 35 yards passing to New Mexico.
Despite the yardage outbreak, the defense allowed one touchdown and scored on a safety.
The Mesa offense also asserted their dominance on the ground in the second half by gaining 127 yards and adding 13 more points to their lead.
Jacob Richardson led the ground game gaining 70 yards on 16 carries and Colton Malone emerged as the teams No. 1 quarterback after several weeks of quarterback carousal.
“I was impressed with the play of the defense in this game not giving up a passing first down and I think a lot of questions where answered as to who the starters should be,” said Dunn.
Freshman Colton Malone, further cemented his position as the starting quarterback when he passed for 162 yards and 3 touchdowns in week four, as the Thunderbirds defeated Phoenix College, 34-13, on Oct. 1.
The defense did an effective job of shutting down the Bears running game, limiting them to 2.2 yards per carry.
Mesa’s defense applied the pressure to the Bears throughout the game causing three fumbles, intercepting two passes, blocking one field goal and sacking the quarterback four times.
Defensive end Tyson Estes instigated the most damage with six tackles, three sacks, a fumble recovery, and blocked kick.
His feats against Phoenix lead him to be named the WSFL’s “Defensive Player of the Week.”
And the offense was just as impressive, chalking up 336 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.
The key to the game was the Thunderbirds balanced attack, which keep the Bears guessing all night long.
The leading rushers for Mesa were Hayden Moss with 54 yards on eight carries and Chad Baniecki gaining 48 yards on seven carries.
Mesa looks to use the momentum it gained in this victory when they take on two ranked opponents in the next two weeks.
Those two games could very well determine if the Thunderbirds get to the bowl game they desire.
Their first challenge comes on Oct. 8, when the Thunderbirds travel to Utah to take on Snow College.
Snow is currently undefeated and ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA poll.
Then it is another week on the road, this time at No. 8 Glendale Community College on Oct. 15.
Win or lose, these two contest could determine the out come of the Thunderbirds’ season, for a team with more than one loss rarely goes to the Valley of the Sun Bowl.
Volume
43, Issue 4. Today is
