Apaches break non-district losing streak

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GONZALES — A 10-game non-district losing streak was broken Friday night after the Gonzales Apaches overcame the Orange Grove Bulldogs 23-14 to start their season 1-0.

“We were anywhere from a 10-15 point ‘dogs in the polls that have been put out,” Apaches’ head coach Kodi Crane said. “That’s a five-time district champion. That’s a good football team.”

Orange Grove finished last season at 10-1 and were expected to repeat as champion in District 16-4ADII. But the Apaches’ defense was too physical, not allowing a score until the fourth quarter in the nine-point win.

“We had two outstanding goal line stands,” Crane said of his defense. “Very proud of them.”

When looking at film, Crane noticed that Orange Grove were “plain Jane” or didn’t do too many different things on defense.

“We knew one of two things. Number one, that with a new head coach, they were slow putting stuff on,” he explained, “or they were hiding everything for the first game. Obviously we found out that they were hiding everything for the first game.”

Despite all this, the Apaches came out firing, scoring on their first possession of the game. Gonzales went on a 11-play, 76-yard drive that killed 3:45 of the clock, which ended with a score by running back Josh Calvin. Calvin would end the night rushing 12 times for 50 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Garrett Rickman had his first varsity start, completing 8-of-13 for 86 yards and an interception. He also rushed 16 times for 81 yards.

“I think Garrett Rickman for his first start did unbelievable,” Crane said. “He’ll continue to improve.”

Those 16 rushes are something Rickman didn’t quite show in scrimmages due to the nature of the games.

“That’s a dynamic that Garrett hadn’t shown in scrimmages because of the quick whistle on the quarterback,” Crane explained. “We think that he has some ability to make plays with his feet. He’ll continue to improve and make plays through the air and with his feet.”

Defensively, junior defensive back Colby Cox was all over the field with one solo tackle, four assisted tackles, one tackle for a loss, an interception and two broken up passes.

Meanwhile, a defensive front led by Wade Miller put pressure in the backfield. Miller had nine solo tackles, six assisted tackles, one tackle for a loss and a sack.

The fourth quarter saw most of the scoring, with Orange Grove cutting the lead to 13-7 right at the start of the quarter. The Apaches answered back with a big return to their own 49-yard line. Hunt rushed it down the field for 15 yards and Calvin had a one-yard carry. But it was a tip-play where Rickman threw the ball, Orange Grove defenders tipped it and it landed in senior wide receiver Luis Segura’s hands who took it for 33 yards. He ended the night with two grabs for 42 yards.

Calvin finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown.

Soon after, Orange Grove again got in the end zone, beating out a defensive back with a double move. But on the ensuing drive, the Apaches drove down the field, killing 4:54 of game clock to kick a 22-yard field goal, made by Rogelio Sanchez, to go up 23-14. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Apaches took down the rest of the clock to win by that score.

Despite the win, Crane knows that his team is far from where he needs them to be to compete in their district

“We got to get better,” he acknowledged. “We got to play better defense. We’re playing too tall, our pad-level is horrendous. We got to continue to get in better shape and it’s always like that the first game. Offensively we got to continue to move the ball and continue to be consistent for four quarters.”

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