MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(La Puente) – Gatsbee Gumban ran for 245 yards and two touchdowns to lead Nogales to a 38-17 win over Don Lugo Thursday Night at Nogales High. It was the ninth straight win for the Nobles.

Gumban scored on a 27-yard run in the third quarter and later in the third took he took a pass from JoJo Venegas, turned on the jets and then turned it into a 60-yard catch and run for a touchdown. The Nobles were up just 19-17 at halftime but Gumban’s two touchdowns opened it up to a 32-19 advantage and Nogales went on to the victory.

Nogales was still up by 13 late in the fourth quarter when the Nobles defense stopped Don Lugo on a fourth and goal at the four-yard line. The Nobles took over and two plays later, after a losing a yard, Gumban hit the corner and faster then you could say “The Great Gatsbee” he was gone for a 97-yard sprint to glory.

That put Nogales up by three touchdowns with 2:43 left and broke Don Lugo’s back.

Nogales scored on its first possession driving 73 yards on eight plays. Venegas capped it with a two-yard keeper.

After Jesus Pena kicked a 24-yard field goal for Don Lugo, Nogales came up with another big play. Davon Lewis took a reverse and outran the Don Lugo defense for a 60-yard touchdown run to put Nogales up 12-3 with 47 seconds left in the first quarter. Nogales went for two but was denied.

The Conquistadors tried to stay in the hunt. Brandon Elias finished a quick 51-yard drive with a three-yard run early in the second quarter to cut it to 12-10.

The Nobles quickly answered on the next possession when Venegas found Elias Serafin who rumbled through the Don Lugo secondary for a 32-yard score.

Don Lugo put together a 14-play, 63-yard drive late in the second quarter. Brandon Pinon connected with Diego Guzman in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown with just 27 seconds left in the quarter. The Conquistadors had momentum and were down by two heading into the break but the Nobles put an end to that in the third quarter.

The Nobles may have had even more points on the board but had a couple of touchdowns called back due to penalties.

The Nogales defense had two interceptions as Lewis and Tyron Walker each had picks. Walker’s came on the last Don Lugo drive and started the Nobles victory celebration.

“Gatsbee (Gumban) had a huge night, the O-line had a huge night, everybody…it was a total team effort. He runs so hard and he’s so selfless. Whatever the team needs he’s ready to go. I’m just so proud of him,” said Nogales head coach Kevin Encinas. He also said they haven’t reached their peak yet. “We’re just getting started. We’re just barely scratching the surface as what we can do. I’ve always said who we are in Week 1 is not the same team as we are in Week 10 and going into the playoffs,” he added.

With the 60-yard reception for a touchdown Gumban had 305 yards of total offense and three touchdowns on the night.

Elias ran for 63 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries for Don Lugo.

With the victory the Nobles improved to a perfect 9-0 on the season and are in control of the Gano League at 4-0. Don Lugo fell to 2-2 and 4-5.

D 3 14 0 0 17

N 12 7 13 6 38