Davis improves but loses another in rugged DVC
ELK GROVE – “Tell ya what… We competed right to the end.”
Davis High football coach Steve Smyte, for the most part, liked what he saw on Friday – despite the Blue Devils losing 28-14 to Laguna Creek.
But wasn’t this the same old story? DHS has a thin roster. Players have to play out of position because of injuries. The Devils got worn out.
“This one was different,” Smyte said, seeing another building block placed at the foundation of what he hopes will be a strong program not so far down the road. “We played hard … we were moving the ball. We got stuff going.
“The defense played a lot better. We showed life on offense and life on defense.”
But a recurring theme again did in the locals.
In the first period of the Delta Valley Conference tilt, Davis twice stopped Laguna Creek before a 94-yard punt return from Antwon Major – on the quarter’s final play – put the Cardinals on the board.
It was the 15th play of 40 yards or more this year against the Blue Devils, who fell to 2-4 and 0-2 in league.
About four minutes later, after Davis stalled on its third possession, the Cardinals (4-3, 1-1 in DVC) struck big with a Kyle Shepherd-to-Emilio Mendoza 43-yard TD pass.
Trailing 14-0, the Devils dug in and would battle even the rest of the night.
An eight-play, 70-yard drive saw tailback Winfred Roberson score from 2 yards out. Adam Inouye’s block provided his stablemate room to maneuver. Thomas May’s conversion was good and Davis stuck its nose back in the battle.
However… remember that ongoing theme?
Davis forced Laguna Creek into a third-and-8 from its own 31-yard line. Creek coach Mark Nill called time out, talked things over with Shepherd and voila! The strategy was painfully simple: have sprinter/receiver Shaquille Cornelius get open, have Shepherd lay the ball on target.
Sixty-nine yards later, the long connection made things 21-7 as intermission arrived.
After the two schools exchanged possessions opening the third quarter, the Blue Devils went on a coach’s dream outing.
Using 17 plays, taking 6:02 off the clock, Davis converted four third-down plays and a fourth down (Willie Hawkins’ 11-yard reception saved the day) before a now-gimpy Roberson was convoyed home by tackle Brian Stabenfeldt, again from 2 yards away. May’s kick was good.
With 13:56 remaining in the game, DHS was within six at 20-14. Roberson, who now has 10 touchdowns, would gain 98 yards on 24 carries. A twisted ankle put the sophomore dynamo on the sidelines for a few plays, but by game’s end he was back, running with his normal authority.
Davis stopped Laguna Creek on its next possession, but the Devils also were forced to punt.
As tough as defensive coordinator Randy Malmgren’s guys made it on the Cards, it wasn’t enough as The Creek went 70 yards in 14 plays, capped by Jordan Ayre’s scoring toss to Deshun Williams.
A botched snap forced Laguna Creek to scramble from its point-after kick formation. Holder Torrence White found Mendoza in the end zone, completing the scoring and leaving Davis with just over two minutes to play.
The Devils ventured quickly back into Cardinal territory, but White intercepted a Shayne Reagan pass with under a minute left.
“The special teams played better,” Smyte continued. “That one punt was a huge momentum-changer. We had a defensive stop earlier and flipped the field on ‘em and that (punt return) … it hurt.
“But we got the ball back and ended up scoring.”
Corey Nelson, playing linebacker on a bad ankle, gave no quarter, figuring in 19 tackles and playing H-back.
Smyte said having LB Mike McTygue (knee) back in the lineup allowed Davis to move versatile Grant Dickerson to safety, a position he played on junior varsity. With the secondary strengthened with a big hitter like Dickerson, defensive tackle Nick Denton fought off double teams and made several stops for losses.
“Denton was a beast all night. I thought Grant played very well coming down from safety, a new position, bring some wood. Adam (Inouye) ran strong and blocked,” added Smyte, in his second year at the helm. “There was good stuff happening tonight.”
Next, Davis hosts Grant (4-3, 1-1) at Halden Field in Ron & Mary Brown Stadium. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
Notes: Kris Mackewicz, who has seen action at linebacker, cornerback and wide receiver, missed Friday’s game with food poisoning. …For the first time this season, Reagan (12-of-32 for 130 yards) did not throw for a touchdown. “He threw some dimes … and had to run for his life at time,” Smyte continued about his senior QB. “He played a very good game for us.” … Roberson now has 808 yards rushing to go with those 10 TDs. “Early, (Winfred) wasn’t getting some of the power stuff and had to bounce it to the sidelines,” Smyte reported. “But you talk to him on the sideline and he gets it. He’s a real coachable kid and he plays hard every down.” …Linebacker Austin Day’s season is probably over after being attended to in the second half for what initially was diagnosed as another concussion. …The Impossible Dream that is the Delta Valley Conference now presents Davis with two of Northern California’s best football schools: the Devils host Grant (4-3, 1-1) at Halden Field in Ron & Mary Brown Stadium. Game time is 7:15 p.m. On Oct. 28, it’s off to Elk Grove for the undefeated Thundering Herd (7-0). Grant topped Monterey Trail, 35-7, and EGHS stopped Franklin, 23-7. …DHS has lost four straight.
— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at bgallaudet@davisenterprise.net or (530) 747-8047.
Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=93035
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Posted by Bruce Gallaudet
on Oct 15 2011.
Last Login: Tue 22 May 2012 11:46:20 PM PDT
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