Armijo snaps 17-game losing streak
FAIRFIELD — The winning streak stands at one.
With the happy crowd chanting “Streak is over!” and coach Aaron Toliver getting a victory bath, the Armijo High football team snapped its 17-game losing streak — longest in school and city history — with a 29-13 win over Valley of Sacramento at Brownlee Field on Friday night.
“Oh, my gosh, I’m overwhelmed with emotion,” Toliver said. “It’s great to have the first win, hopefully of many.”
The last win for Armijo (1-1) was a 38-12 victory over Florin of Sacramento on Oct. 2, 2009. Valley (0-2) has lost 10 straight and 25 of its last 26.
“It’s nice to get off the losing streak,” Toliver said. “It’s the first win in two calendar years. That’s awesome.”
At times Armijo was less than awesome, but made enough big plays — and had enough bounces go its way — to earn the victory.
On their second possession, the Indians used a 35-yard halfback option pass from Enrique Garrido-Ramirez to Malachi Lewis to take a 6-0 lead with 4 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first quarter.
It stayed that way until Armijo drove 64 yards in eight plays with Garrido-Ramirez taking an option pitch from Jacob Chauvin 7 yards around the right side.
Ren Gibbs, who had three sacks in a stellar night on defense, then bulled his way in for the first of his two 2-point conversion runs to make it 14-0 with 6:36 left in the half.
The momentum appeared to be totally in the Indians’ favor when Tyler Wilson made a diving interception of a Chas Roberts pass at the Valley 26-yard line.
Disaster struck, however, when Chauvin tried to escape a heavy rush and fumbled while being sacked. Fotokavu Malu scooped up the bouncing ball at the Armijo 3 and trotted into the end zone to pull the Vikings to within 14-6. Malu’s conversion attempt was wide left.
Chauvin quickly redeemed himself — with the help of a little luck. His slant pass intended for Lewis bounced high off the receiver and somehow found its way into the hands of Ronald Mitchell who caught the pass in stride and outraced the defense for a 73-yard touchdown.
Gibbs’ other conversion run upped Armijo’s lead to 22-6, which it was at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Indians iced the victory by going 61 yards in nine plays with Garrido-Ramirez sweeping around the right side from 7 yards out. Victor Calderon’s conversion kick made it 29-6 with 2:53 left in the game.
Valley tacked on a last-minute touchdown on a 16-yard slant pass from Abraham Gonzalez to Cole Martens.
The Indians are at Benicia next Friday.
Reach Paul Farmer at 425-4646 Ext. 264 or pfarmer@dailyrepublic.net.
Short URL: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/?p=85421
Posted by Paul Farmer
on Sep 9 2011.
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