Dos Pueblos running back Anthony Spiritosanto finds open field on his 35-yard scoring run in the first quarter. (Presidio Sports Photo)
Anthony Spiritosanto rushed for two touchdowns and 174 yards in Dos Pueblos’ 54-0 Channel League victory over San Marcos on Friday night.
Spiritosanto reached the endzone on long runs of 35 and 42 yards, gaining the 174 yards on just 10 carries.
“It feels great,” Spiritosanto said. “I’m really excited but I’d like thank my offensive line for blocking well for me. They really opened up some holes.”
San Marcos quarterback Austin Pugh gets a pass off in the face of pressure from Dos Pueblos’ Robert Gulvin. Pugh completed the pass.
Dylan Rohde and LeShon Bell also recorded a pair of rushing touchdowns each and combined for 186 yards rushing and 24 points on the scoreboard.
“Whenever we’re running the ball well, we’re doing well in the game,” Spiritosanto said.
For his efforts, Spiritosanto was given the Jeff Hesselmeyer MVP Award for leading Dos Pueblos to victory in the Battle of the Goodland.
“We wanted to commit to the run tonight and wear them down,” said Chargers head coach Nate Mendoza.
The Charger coaches talked to their team all week about winning the battle of the trenches.
That they did, collecting a whopping 487 yards rushing on 34 carries. Six different Chargers carried the ball, with most of the work going to Spiritosanto and Rohde.
Dos Pueblos (5-2) scored eight rushing touchdowns in total, with Tyler Welch and Reece Askew getting late touchdowns with the game decided. Instead of kneeling on the final play of the game, Dos Pueblos handed the ball off to Askew who took it 43 yards for the touchdown as time expired.
It’s a move that won’t be forgotten by San Marcos soon.
“I’m from Northern California,” said Royals first-year head coach Anthony Linebaugh, who had been coaching in Galt at Liberty Ranch prior to taking the job at San Marcos. “Southern California’s cutthroat.”
“They can get me this year. I’ll get ’em next year.”
In the meantime, Dos Pueblos started Channel League play with Spiritosanto and Bell back at full strength after being limited recently.
Bell stepped in for starting quarterback Nolan Soto – who also plays linebacker on defense – in the second quarter. His first play was a 41-yard bomb to Jordan Degraffinreid. His second play was a 17-yard scramble that ended in the endzone. [VIDEO] On three of DP’s scoring drives, Bell needed just six plays to take the Chargers a combined 173 yards.
“He brings a whole ‘nother element to the offense,” Mendoza explained. “You have to account for him as a defense and that’s tough to do.”
Bell was forced into more action after Soto left the game in the second half because of a knee injury. Soto’s status was unclear after the game.
Next week San Marcos (1-6) hosts Buena (4-3), which defeated Santa Barbara 27-17 on Friday.
The Chargers travel to face Ventura (4-2), who had a bye in the league’s first week of play.
DOS PUEBLOS 54, SAN MARCOS 0
DP ?14 7 20 13 – 54
SM ?0 ?0 ? 0 ? 0 ?- ?0
FIRST QUARTER
8:30 — Spiritosanto 35-yard run (Bornand PAT)
0:33 — Rohde 4-yard run (Bornand PAT)
SECOND QUARTER
1:13 — Bell 17-yard run (Bornand PAT)
THIRD QUARTER
10:20 — Spiritosanto 42-yard run (Bornand PAT)
7:46 — Bell 58-yard run (PAT Failed)
4:57 — Rohde 13-yard run (Bornand PAT)
FOURTH QUARTER
6:01 — Welch 57-yard run (Bornand PAT)
0:00 — Askew 43 yard run (No PAT attempt)
