The Santiago Football Sharks opened up Big VIII league play with a convincing victory over the Roosevelt Mustangs by a score of 38 – 25, overcoming the crippling adversity of an injured starting quarterback in junior Blake Barnett. Winning their home opener, the Sharks improved their overall record to 3 – 3 and league record to 1 – 0. In addition, the Corona Chargers cheer squad and bands from various middle schools performed alongside the Shark cheer squad and BOSS.
Itching to play in the always-poignant league rivalry games, the Santiago special teams came up big in the young moments of the game with a fumble recovery on the first kickoff, allowing the Shark offense to score a rushing touchdown at 11:47 by Isaiah Manley (12). The defense play held Roosevelt to a three-and-out, with a Shark capitalization in the form of an eight-yard touchdown pass from Barnett (11) to Bradley Duran (12) with 8:18 left to go in the quarter. Slipping up later in the quarter, the defense regressed; facing a well put together Roosevelt drive that scored, the Shark lead was cut to 14 – 6. However, the Sharks remained stalwart on a two-point conversion attempt by the Mustangs. Immediately retaliating, running back Joey Camarillo (11) plunged into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run, giving the Sharks more breathing room at a score of 21 – 6. Invigorated with less than two minutes less in the quarter, Roosevelt scored another touchdown via a touchdown pass, but Kory Larez (12) was able to block the extra point, keeping the score at a manageable 21 – 12 for the Sharks.
Through the early stages of the second quarter the teams faced each other in relative equilibrium, broken finally by a one yard touchdown run by the Santiago offense, extending the lead to 28 – 12 with nine minutes remaining in the first half. Following another Roosevelt touchdown and failed two-point conversion with 6:58 left in the half, Santiago quarterback Blake Barnett received a concussion and replacement Tanner Maddox (11) led the drive down the field. Despite a successful drive, the Santiago offense stagnated as a result of an interception thrown by Maddox. The defense once again proved it’s worth, holding the Mustangs to no points, and on a punt the special teams came up big for the Sharks once again, recovering a botched snap on a punt. With great field position, Camarillo rushed for his third touchdown of the night, propelling the Sharks to a 35 – 18 lead at the end of the first half.
After halftime the game’s intensity transformed into a struggle, with neither team being able to score until the middle of the third quarter, a Roosevelt touchdown pass sliced the Santiago lead down to 38 – 25. Recuperating from an injured quarterback, the Sharks once again marched down the field to give kicker Jake Roberts (10) a chance to kick a 36 yard field goal, tacking three points on to a Shark lead at 4:56 to 38 – 25. After several unsuccessful drives in the fourth quarter by each team, safety Ryan Ricard (12) put the nail in Roosevelt’s coffin with an interception late in the fourth quarter, ending the game in Santiago’s favor.
This 38 – 25 victory catapults Santiago in the upper echelons of the Big VIII, puts them back at a .500 win-loss ratio, and sends them good tidings for their battle at rival Corona Panthers next Friday.
