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Gallup paws the visiting Bernalillo Spartans, wins 33-0

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GALLUP – The Gallup Bengals kicked off their season opener against the visiting Bernalillo Spartans with a towering 33-0 victory in action play Friday night at the Angelo DiPaolo Memorial Stadium Aug. 25.

The Bengals and Spartans had a slow first quarter with offensive and defensive inaccuracies. It took both sides to get comfortable with their team’s play-calling and system.

Bengals had multiple rushers to handle the ball for Gallup. With 2:58 on the clock late in the first quarter, Spartans had turned the ball over with a forced fumble by Gallup. The Bengals took advantage of this turnover and scored first with a touchdown pass from Dominick Stewart to Quincy Smith to get Gallup Football on the scoreboard with an 8-0 lead in the first quarter.

The second quarter started out with a Spartans turnover. Bengal’s Quarterback, Stewart comes through with a rushing touchdown with 8:14 to go in the second quarter. Bernalillo struggled in the second quarter to get the ball moving for yards. The first half ended with a score of 14-0 with the Bengals ahead.

“We’re pretty healthy, and a young football team.” Bengal’s head coach Joshua Olfen said. “We’re looking for a winning season. We are still young, and we’re looking to upset a few teams along the way on our schedule. We’re just trying to get six wins this year.”

Gallup had a couple of sacks in the third quarter and an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Bengals Defensive Back, Zacharri Fields to extend their lead to 20-0 with 2:31 left in the third quarter.

“We’ve lost three starters in our offensive-line coming into this week. Gallup Played very well. We got to get better. Our young kids played well.” Spartans head coach John Cobos said. “I’m not going to make a prediction of how our season will go; but, I promise this, everybody will know that they played us. I guarantee they will be in a dog fight with us.” Coach Cobos delivers about his team’s loss tonight at the Angelo DiPaolo Memorial Stadium.

With 5:50 to go late in the fourth quarter Bengals football rushed for their fourth touchdown into the end zone to extend their lead. Bengals Kicker, Carlos Garcia’s field goal attempt puts the Bengals up 27-0. Gallup’s defense capped off the game with an interception deep into their own territory to return 75-yards for a touchdown with 1:18 remaining in the fourth quarter.

“I know we want to take some positives away from this win, but we did a lot of things wrong.” Gallup coach Olfen said. “We’ve got the same game plan for Thoreau coming up after our bye-week this week.”

Gallup has a bye-week this week and will return Friday night Sep. 8 to host Thoreau at 7 pm at the Angelo DiPaolo Memorial Stadium. Bernalillo will host the visiting Navajo Prep Eagles Friday Sep. 1 at 7 pm.

By Duane Haven

Sun Correspondent