 
Saints @ FHSC
Sunday, Oct 19
Won 38-7
As of: end week 10
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| Standings |
W |
L |
T |
| Sonora |
8 |
1 |
0 |
|
| New Orleans |
5 |
4 |
0 |
|
| Atlanta |
5 |
4 |
0 |
|
| Tampa Bay |
5 |
4 |
0 |
|
|
 |
| 
| WEEK 10 -- New Orleans Saints at FHSC |
| Sonora hangs 38 points on the Saints |
 | Runner Ian Thorpe collides with the Saints defender |
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Sonora, CA - Jacob Sakin scored from seven yard out on his only carry of the game early in the first quarter
giving the FHSC a 7-0 lead over the visiting Saints. Sonora never looked back and continued to pile up the points on the outmatched Saints
turning what was supposed to be a big-time conference match-up into a laugher.
The Saints only managed 189 yards of total offense compared to FHSC's 444 yards, and only managed to push the ball into enemy territory on two occasions.
"We just totally dominated them on both sides of the ball" said defensive anchor Dana Eaton. Even the final score of 38-7 offers only a slight picture of how lopsided the game actually was.
After Sakin scored in the first quarter, capping off a 7 play FHSC drive, Sonora mounted another huge drive
that took ten plays and almost half a quarter that was finished by a 3 yard touchdown run by Thorpe, early in the second quarter.
Down by 14 points, The Saints looked to respond on the following drive, but it was not to be. On a third and long from about the Sonora
48 yard line, Aaron Brookes thought he had Jake Reed open down the middle of the field. FHSC MLB Kevin Cole, however, got a late jump on the receiver and was able to get underneath the ball just as it arrived
to find his first INT of the season.
Seven plays and 64 yards later, the FHSC was back in the endzone, this time it was 'Jondi' doing the Mimi shuffle. Wide out/Special teamer/defensive utility man Jon diCristina scored his second touchdown of the season
and his 8 yard reception from Roberts gave Sonora a commanding 21-0 lead. "Jondi does it all! We can throw him in as a fourth receiver, let him return kicks, put him on the corner, he'll do anything we ask" commented head coach Morgan Crinklaw.
After the half time intermission, Sonora went right back to work, and only 35 seconds into the third quarter, the scoreboard was in need of updating. The FHSC offense covered 74 yard in two plays; the first, a 25 yard skinny post pass
from Roberts to Jensen, and the second a 49 yard run around left end by Thorpe to pay dirt. Barring a major FHSC defensive break-down, 28 points was looking like a pretty hefty Saints deficit.
The Saints responded by going three and out and a nice punt return by Shane Washburn, put Sonora back in scoring position (which on this day 'scoring position' was considered just about anywhere on the field).
New Orleans however, made the FHSC work hard for points this time, and after 10 plays held on third down to force a Messer field goal attempt. Messer's kick was good from 45 yard and Sonora's lead was extended to 31-0.
The Saints offense continued to struggle under the intense pressure of the Sonora pass rush, and failed to make any progress, going a miserable 2 for 9 on third down conversions.
"We knew that they had some inexperienced players up front and so we wanted to test them, we had guys coming form all over the place, trying to get in Brooks' face and disrupt his timing" said defensive coordinator Jim Wall.
The pressure applied by the FHSC defensive line and linebackers only resulted in two sacks and one interception, but Brooks spent a lot of time pulling himself up off the grass on Sunday.
Late in the third quarter, Jeff Roberts found tight end Mark List across the middle of the field and completed a 15 yard touchdown pass. In the final quarter the FHSC let up the offensive pressure just a bit and was unable to score at will.
Given their comfortable lead, Sonora resorted to "testing" some new plays in the fourth. "We just put in the play this week in practice and we got a chance to test it out, guess maybe it won't be in the playbook next week" said kicker Kevin Messer.
Refering to the fake field goal attempt that Sonora tried to pull off. After the snap, holder and back-up quarterback, David Kurtz took the ball and rolled to his left. After faking a block to the right, Messer slipped down field and looked for the pass.
By design, Kurtz stopped mid roll and looked back across the field for an open Messer and found him. Unfortunately, the ball bounced off of Messer's outstretched hands and the FHSC lost the ball on downs.
On the following FHSC drive, Thorpe fumbled the ball, and the Saints recovered and were able to go the short 23 yards to score their only points of the game. The FHSC will travel to Tampa Bay this Thursday for what should be a great game
on Throwback Thursday between these division foes. Kickoff is at 4:05 pm in the Sombrero on ESPN.
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