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Patriots roll over Gallup, 54-12

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MHS puts up in first half

The Miyamura High School Patriots rolled over the Gallup High School Bengals 54-12 in a football game played Oct. 14 at Gallup Public School Stadium. The Patriots improved to 6-1, 2-0 on the 2016 football season and the Bengals fell to 2-5, 0-2. Both teams play in District 1-5A.

“I was pleased with the way we played in all phases of the game,” Patriots’ head coach Wes Shank said. “I thought our defense stepped up and kept things going in the right direction throughout the entire game, particularly our defensive line.”

Gallup got things going early in the first quarter and looked to be the dominating team when sophomore quarterback Burton Stalker completed a couple of passes to Zakarri Fields for short gains. Senior running back Jason Alatorre broke free for a long gain and senior running back Kevin Stewart took it in from nine years out for a 6-0 Bengals lead with less than seven minutes left in the opening quarter.

“We got some momentum going in the first quarter and that was a good start,” Bengals’ head coach Josh Olsen said. “We had trouble keeping some of that same momentum going after the end of the first quarter.”

The Patriots were just getting started. It looked as though Miyamura, which has won five of the last seven match-ups against Gallup, were trying to figure out what type of opponent they were playing. The Miyamura defense tightened against the Bengals and the offense followed suit. The Patriots scored on their next seven offensive possessions for a 46-6 halftime lead. The game looked out of reach at that point for Gallup.

“We made some good offensive and defensive plays in the first and second quarters that allowed us to get a very good lead going into the second half,” Shank said. “Again, our defensive front played particularly well.”

Junior quarterback Matt Chavez of Miyamura threw touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Jason Upshaw in the first half. As if Chavez lighting up the Gallup secondary wasn’t enough, the Bengals’ defense had to deal with senior Patriot running back Christian Coffee. Chavez did not play after the first half. Chavez threw 11 for 16 in the opening half and that included five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Coffee rushed for 115 yards and, like Chavez, sat out the second as well. The Bengals play at home Oct. 21 in a 5A game against Bloomfield High School (3-4, 0-2). Miyamura takes on 5A Kirtland Central High School (4-3, 0-2) in an away game.

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent