GREENFIELD — Two Gonzales Spartans rushed for over 100 yards apiece and quarterback Raul Morales threw for 100 yards in a 28-14 win at the Greenfield High Senior Night game. Running back Seth Mays rushed for a career-high 179 yards on 20 carries and scored a touchdown and running mate Payton Flores rushed for 115 yards on eight carries and scored on a pass play as the Spartans improved to 2-2 in the Mission Trail Athletic League and 2-6 overall.
“We scored two touchdowns early in the game but we just missed out on adding at least two more scores,” said Gonzales head coach Arthur Berlanga. “On two fourth and goal calls we came up short on a quarterback sneak and then we had a bad snap on the other short yardage play. That kept the game close because Greenfield scored in the final minutes of the half to cut the lead to 14-7. The score could have easily been 28-0 at that point.”
The Spartans took the first lead of the game at 7-0 in the first quarter with a 47-yard touchdown run on the second drive of the game for Gonzales. Jaime Perez added the PAT for the visitors. Morales completed a drive for the Spartans with a seven-yard touchdown run and Gonzales led 14-0 after another PAT by Perez.
Greenfield cut the Spartan lead to 14-7 with 15-yard pass play from quarterback Andy Hernandez to running back Isaac Pajas and a successful PAT by William Enriquez.
In the third quarter Gonzales got on the scoreboard again with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Morales to Flores. The Spartans led 21-7 going into the final quarter but Hernandez got away from the Gonzales defenders and ran 47-yards for a touchdown to cut the Bruin deficit to 21-14. Flores, Mays, and the rest of the Spartans kept the ball moving after the Greenfield score and finished a drive with a 15-yard touchdown run by Flores and a PAT by Garcia for the final 28-14 score.
Hernandez was the leading rusher for Greenfield with 20 carries for 91 yards and scored one touchdown. The quarterback was successful on four of eleven pass attempts and threw one touchdown. LJ Richardson had 48 yards on nine carries and Andres Espinosa led the Bruins with two receptions for 26 yards.
“The defense played much better against Gonzales,” said Bruin head coach Ryan Bravo. “They produced two turnovers and two goal line stands. The offensive struggles continued again. Costly penalties along with turnovers, drops, and poor execution stalled out drives. Also we had a 98-yard drive and failed to produce points as we turned the ball over on downs. It is very frustrating on offense when we don’t put points on such a long drive.”
In the JV contest the Spartans came back to defeat the host Bruins, 30-24. Greenfield led 24-22 late in the game before Gonzales mounted the fourth quarter comeback.
The Spartans took a 14-0 lead with touchdowns runs of 50-yards and 37-yards by Frankie Leon at running back and Jason Flores at quarterback respectively. The lead lasted until the third quarter with the Bruins outscored Gonzales 24-8 to take the 24-22 lead. Gonzales scored in the third quarter on a run by Jose DeLeon and Frankie Leon scored the game-winner with a 40-yard run in the final quarter. Leon also scored the final two-point conversion with a run.
The win represents the first league win for Gonzales who improved to 3-5 overall. Marina did not have a JV team and the Spartans played San Benito.
“It was a good competitive game and went back and forth,” said Greenfield head coach Bill Riddell. “Antonio Chiquito scored on a quick pitch and Ivan Torres scored on a sweep. Daniel Morales threw a touchdown pass to Jose Hernandez. Brian Pina and Sergio Aguirre played well on defense.”
The Spartan varsity and the JV team will host the St. Francis Sharks on Friday and finish the season next Friday when they will host the Harbor Pirates.
Greenfield is 1-4 in the MTAL and 2-6 overall and plays at Soquel on Friday. The Bruins complete the season on Nov. 3 in a non-league game with the host King City Mustangs.
