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MV blasts Window Rock, 64-6

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Scouts’ Nez runs for yards in loss

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent

FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. - The Monument Valley High School Mustangs played to practical perfection Oct. 7 and clobbered the Window Rock High School Fighting Scouts 64-6 in an Arizona 3A North football game at Window Rock Stadium in Fort Defiance, Ariz.

The Mustangs remain in the mix for a repeat run to the Arizona State playoffs. The team is undefeated this year and was undefeated at this point in the season last year, too.

The Mustangs opened the game by scoring on each of their first few possessions. Junior running back Billy Mitchell took it in from six yards out to give the Mustangs a 6-0 lead. The extra point was good, and Monument Valley created some momentum that allowed for a 14-0 lead on a pass play in which Valley senior quarterback Cauy Nelson connected with senior wide receiver Royce Charley on a 30-yard-pass play.

Window Rock couldn’t get anything moving on offense, and the Valley defense wasn’t giving up much. But Scouts’ running back Cornelius Nez was a bright spot for the Scouts throughout the entire game. Nez finished the game with close to 100 yards on the ground.

“This was a good all-around game for us,” Monument Valley head coach Bryan Begay said. “We played to our strengths. We had some trouble containing their running back, but overall, I am pleased with the win.”

Nelson was particularly effective in roll-out screen plays in which he threw to either Charley or Mitchell in the flat. The Mustangs penetrated the Window Rock defense a lot in the first half and came away with several first downs.

Valley went up 28-6 with 3:54 left in the second quarter. If Window Rock was to mount a comeback, the time to do it was near the end of the first half when Valley accumulated penalties that took away prime field position.

“We played hard, but [Monument Valley] came out the winner today,” Scouts’ first-year head coach Scott Weaver said. “Defensively, we let them get good field position too many times. That punt return was a back-breaker when we had our running game going decently.”

The Mustangs improved to 7-0, 1-0 on the 2016 football year. Begay said he expects the Mustangs to go far in the state playoffs this year, as they did last year, before losing in the final round. Window Rock fell to 1-6, 0-3.

Monument Valley plays Ganado (5-2, 1-2) Oct. 14 at Kayenta in the Mustangs’ homecoming game. Valley, Window Rock, and Ganado play in the same realigned 3A North conference.

Senior running back and kick-return specialist Gabriel James of Monument Valley took a punt return 65 yards for 48-6 Mustangs lead. Still, Nez remained the work horse for the Scouts, running hard and breaking several tackles for large gains. But the Scouts couldn’t get to the end zone often enough.

Valley scored two more touchdowns in the latter minutes of the third quarter and at the beginning of the fourth. The Scouts went through three quarterbacks in the game, but each found the tough Mustangs’ defense stingy.

Through the 2016 football season, Nelson has compiled a 671 passing percentage while throwing just four interceptions.