Apaches defense shuts down Marion

The Gonzales Apaches got back on the winning track Thursday, Sept. 12 with a 26-6 road victory over the Marion Bulldogs.

The Apache defense shined against the Bulldogs, allowing only one touchdown from their offense; junior defensive back Daevien Pitts recorded two interceptions against Marion.

“We just had to come out here and play hard and just push each other. We've been practicing about this the whole week, focusing everything, and we just came out here. We had to get the victory,” Pitts said.

The Apaches (1-2) got everything done on offense against Marion’s defense; Gonzales sophomore Tyler Hoffman connected with receiver David Clack III seven times for 41 yards and rushed for two touchdowns.

Clack carried the ball four times for 38 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

“We haven't scored a first quarter touchdown, not this whole year, so it felt good. Two back to back touchdowns on two drives felt really good,” Hoffman said.

“I just try to hit every hole I've seen, catch every ball I've seen, and my quarterback just landed there every time,” Clack added.

The offense combined for 210 total yards against Marion; 144 of those came from the ground.

Apaches head football coach Joey Rivera was proud of how his team performed against Marion last Thursday night.

“We got better as a team from our practice on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, on a short week, we had a really good week of practice, and we got better as a team, win or lose this week. So that was good that we came away with the with the win, but we had a lot of focus on just doing little things right,” Rivera said.

Rivera said it was an amazing effort on defense against Marion.

“Guys rolling in and out, playing with tremendous effort. It was a great job getting after quarterback. That was chunking the rock there at the end. And they try to mash us a little bit up front. We bent a little bit, but we didn't break. And it just a great team effort defensively,” Rivera said.

The Apaches will be taking on a familiar team this Friday in the Pleasanton Eagles; last year, the game was canceled due to a thunderstorm and lightning at Pleasanton.

“I think another smash mouth one watching a little bit on film already, like I said coach [Stephen] Liska always does a great job. Last year's was about to be, I think, a shootout and lightning struck, and you know, we'll be ready for the Eagles,” Rivera said.

The Apaches will host Pleasanton for the home opener this Friday, Sept. 20.

Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m.

--STATS--

OFFENSE:

Passing:

1. Hoffman: 11/16 for 63 yards

Receiving:

1. Clack III: seven receptions for 41 yards

Ayden Ramirez: two receptions for 13 yards

Brayden Hoffman: one reception for nine yards

Rushing:

1. Ramirez: three carries for 60 yards
2. Clack III: four carries for 38 yards and one touchdown
3. Hoffman: seven carries for 34 yards and two touchdowns

Keith White: two carries for 13 yards.

DEFENSE:

Tackles:

Landon Rhodes and Brealien Jones: five total tackles

Jaydon Lampkin and Christian Jurek: four total tackles

1. Clack III, Isaac Gonzales, Luis Zuniga Jr., and Marcus Izaguirre: Three total tackles

John Izaguirre, Omar Borjon, Dylan Hunt, Jermane Upshaw, and Joshua Anthony: two total tackles

1. White, Bryce Eleby, Sebastian Gallegos and Damion Hunt: one total tackle

Interceptions:

1. Pitts: two interceptions