Mini Cassia Diggers-7, Flathead Monsters-6

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Missoula, Montana- Loyola Sacred Heart, Rollin Field

 

 

The Monsters were looking to derail the defending AA Champions, but came up just short.  Defense ruled the night.   The Monsters defense forced five turnovers and held the Diggers to seven points.  The Digger defense sacked Monster QB Sam Fernandez seven times and stopped the Monsters on a two point try that decided the game.

 

 

The opening kickoff was a touchback, giving the Monsters the ball at the twenty.  The Monsters run game started strong.  RB Joey Ybarra had back to back runs of seven yards to start the game.  The Diggers stuffed a first down run by the Monsters then sacked the QB on second down.  A third down pass fell short and the Monsters punted the ball to the Diggers.  The Monsters defense forced a fumble, giving the offense great field position.  The pass rush of the Diggers backed the Monsters up and forced another punt.  

 

 

The Monsters turned the ball over on downs three times inside the Diggers thirty yard-line.   The Diggers turned the ball on a fumble and an interception, but the Diggers defense forced three second quarter sacks on Fernandez.   The Monsters defense forced two turnovers in the second, including an interception by Josh Ybarra to end a Digger drive before halftime.

 

 

In the third quarter, Flathead’s defense forced another fumble giving the Monsters a short field.  The Monsters offense was able to take advantage and drove down the field.  RBs Michael Kuehne and Joey Ybarra led the way with several nice runs.  The drive seemed to have stalled at the thirty before Fernandez hit WR Freddie Brown at the one yard line.  Fernandez kept the ball on the following play for a one yard touchdown.  The Diggers then stuffed the run up the middle for the point after, leaving the score 6-0.  Safety Michael Kuehne intercepted Diggers QB A.J Hunter in the end zone on the following Diggers possession.

 

 

The Diggers defense continued to pressure the Monsters QB in the 4th, forcing punts on all but one Monsters drive in the final quarter.  Mini Cassia found the tying score, as Hunter hit WR Heyden Thacker streaking down the sideline for the 59-yard touchdown.  The Luis Miramontes PAT was wide right but a roughing-the-holder penalty gave the Diggers a second chance.  The second try was true, giving the Diggers a one-point lead with 4:21 left in the game.  Mini Cassia’s defense forced a three and out leaving three minutes in the game.  On the next possession, the Diggers faced a third-and-one, but the Monsters jumped offside allowing the Diggers to run the clock.  However, the Monsters would take over with 16 seconds remaining.  Fernandez’s desperation pass was intercepted, sealing the game for the Diggers.

 

 

Hunter led the Digger offense, completing 11 of 16 passes for 193 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass to Thacker.  WR Angel Anguiano led the receiving corps with 81 yards on 5 catches.  Defensively, the Diggers were led by LB Miguel Simental and Dan Corless each with 7 tackles apiece, as well as Alex Salinas with 6.5 tackles.

 

For the Monster offense, it was Fernandez at the helm, who finished 8 of 21 for 118 yards through the air.  His two leading targets were WR Freddie Brown with 2 catches for 36 yards and TE Ja’Ton Simpson with 2 catches for 28 yards.  RB Michael Kuehne was an impact in the Monster backfield with 12 carries for 61 yards.  Defensively, the Monsters had many names to add to the leader board, including Freddie Brown with 10 tackles, Sika Ulatoa with 7 tackles, Ja’Ton Simpson with 6 tackles and Jamar Galbreath with 6 tackles.  Brown, Ulatoa, and Simpson each grabbed 2 sacks apiece as well.