Tsukada gets 9 catches, 106 yards and a score.
By Saile Ramirez
(Walnut)- The Walnut Mustangs shut out the visiting Rowland Raiders in the second half on the way to a 33-28 victory Friday night.
The game wasn’t decided until the final minute. Down five and facing a fourth and 17 situation, Rowland back up quarterback George Campos hit Danny McMahan 32-yards down field for another set of downs and new life.
Campos completed two straight passes to Raider running back Terry Ford and had his team 18-yards away from the game winning score. After running back Ervin Crawford was stuffed for no gain, Rowland was forced to go through the air. Campos dropped back three times and had each of his passes fall to the ground to end his team’s final threat.
“We missed three red zone opportunities,” said Rowland coach Craig Snyder. “They played well and beat us.”
The Raiders started their first drive deep in Walnut territory after their defense forced the ‘Stangs to punt from their own nine yard line.
Crawford carried the ball three straight times and help set up a five-yard Michael Ball touchdown run and a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing Walnut drive, quarterback Brandon Roach was four for four and was able to avoid third downs all together as he capped off the possession with a 12-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jason Tsukada.
Rowland’s next drive ended quickly when Mustang linebacker Randy Collins stepped in front of a Ball pass for the interception. Roach again drove his team down this time to the Raider one, where big Aubrey Coleman pushed his way into the end zone.
Rowland’s Michael Ball was sidelined after injuring himself on the previous drive that ended in a turnover, which forced the team to put in Campos who connected on his first pass to Leonardo Freeman for a 17-yard score.
Tied at 14 Walnut sought out to retake the lead. Defensive back Dylan Larsen came up with an interception stopping the ‘Stang drive after just four plays.
Continuing what he started on his first drive, Campos completed another touchdown pass this time to McMahon who bounced his way in from 10-yards out.
Both teams traded punts and interceptions on each of their next two possessions leaving just 53 seconds before half and the ball in the hands of the Mustang offense.
Roach, on his own 26, rolled out looking to hit receiver Tsukada when his pass was tipped and intercepted by Rowland’s Terry Ford who returned the pick 20-yards for a touchdown and a 28-14 lead at the half.
After an attempted onside kick failed for Walnut, the Raiders started the third at midfield looking to put away the Mustangs. Rowland’s drive stalled and was force to give the ball back to the home team.
“We wanted to run the ball more in the second half,” said Walnut Coach Michael O’Shields. They did just that behind running backs Alejandro Restrepo and Randy Collins who began to wear down the visiting defense. The drive ended with Collins rumbling into the end zone from 7-yards out.
The Mustang defense was able to hold off another Raider drive and the offense capitalized when Roach hit Coleman for a 49-yard strike and got within a point of the Rowland lead after a missed point after.
Although unable to score, the Raiders were still in the lead and again looked to put away the ‘Stangs. On the Walnut 27-yard-line facing a third and three, the Raider offense stalled once more after a false start penalty and a four-yard loss by running back Crawford. The negative yardage led to a punt and an opportunity for Walnut to take the lead.
With 8:42 left in the game, the Mustang offense embarked on a 15-play drive which saw quarterback Roach find ways to move his team down field.
“He just manages games fantastically,” said O’Shields of his quarterback Roach.
On several occasions the ‘Stangs rode the backs of Collins and Restrepo to first downs and drive continuing plays. On the Rowland 25-yard line they faced a fourth and four situation, as Roach was able to find Coleman down the middle for drive saving completion. Three plays later Roach was able to scramble into the end zone for the lead, 33-28.
On the ensuing drive Campos had two passes dropped by Freeman and was sacked before converting a huge fourth down play.
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