MidValleySports.Com

By Tony Solorzano

 (Whittier) –Santa Fe moved into a second place tie in the Del Rio League Friday night as three rushing touchdowns powered them to a 21-0 shutout of El Rancho High at Titan Stadium.

The Dons (5-4, 1-3) needed a win to maintain their playoff chances going into the final weekend, but they were stymied by a very stingy Chiefs (5-4, 3-1) defense who shut down the three-man ground game of Andrew Romero, Ronell Lone and Chris Castro.

The Chiefs got their first score on a one-play drive as Joey Davis took a quick pitch from quarterback Justin Rincon and broke through for a 40-yard touchdown with 4:14 left in the first quarter, the only score of the first half. El Rancho had an opportunity to score late in the second quarter. Romero and Lone help drive the Dons to the Chiefs’ 17-yard line, but Lenny Leyva’s 34-yard field goal attempt was wide right, turning the ball over to the Chiefs with only 1:23 left in the half.

However, on the ensuing play, Daniel Moriel intercepted a throw by Rincon and returned it to Chiefs’ 32 yard line. Unfortunately, a pass attempt by quarterback Troy Campos on third and two from the Santa Fe 24 was picked off in the end zone by Christian Mahlstede 43 seconds left in the half.

In the third quarter, Santa Fe got the ball with 6:33 left in the quarter and with Mahlstede behind center, engineered an 11-play, 69-yard drive culminating in Aaron Zaragoza’s 1-yard run with 24 seconds left in the quarter. On the following drive, El Rancho attempted a fake punt on fourth and seven but Moriel, who moved in behind the snap, was tackled for a loss on the Dons’ 42-yard line, giving the Chiefs the ball on downs.

The Chiefs needed less than three minutes to score their final touchdown of the game, this time from Alex Mirola from six yards out with 7:43 left, giving the Chiefs the 21-0 lead which would stay until the end of the game.

Davis led the ground game with six carries for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Mirola carried 10 times for 34 yards and a touchdown and Zaragoza had four carries for 23 yards. Ronell Lone led the Dons on the ground with 16 carries for 65 yards, but fumbled the ball once for a loss, while Andrew Romero carried 10 times for 57 yards but also fumbled for a loss.

Next week, Santa Fe hosts Pioneer in Defense of the Superchief Bell on Thursday at Titan Stadium, while El Rancho closes out the season at home against Whittier.