By MARK MOLINA | Valley Morning Star
RIO HONDO — From the start things didn’t look too bright for the Santa Rosa Warriors as they saw running back Wally Olivarez get helped off the field on the sixth play with an ankle injury.
Olivarez would not return and the flood gates opened.
The Warriors fought to stay a float for most of the first half, but turnovers turned the momentum one way, allowing the Rio Hondo Bobcats to blow the game open with the help of three touchdowns by running Alan Alfaro en route to a 35-0 victory Friday night at Bobcat Stadium.
As Rio Hondo coach Rocky James expected, the Warriors (0-1) came out aggressive running the ball, but the Bobcat’s (1-0) defense forced the short-handed Santa Rosa squad into errors.
”I knew they were going to come out with a lot of formations and a big line,” James said. “Santa Rosa did a great job even though they lost their stud early. I knew they’d struggle without him because that kid Wally [Olivarez] is a real good football player. However, I knew we should come out and play great on defense.”
According to Warrior coach Arturo Garcia there was no official word yet on the type of injury Olivarez suffered or if it’ll keep his feature back out longer than just the end of Friday’s game.
“I don’t if it was a re aggravated high ankle sprain. I don’t know, but it hurt enough to where he [Olivarez] couldn’t go,” Garcia. “If he’s not 100 percent it isn’t fair to the kid to play him—we’ll take it day by day.”
The Warriors had just 85 yards total offense and struggled to move the ball throughout the night following Olivarez’s exit, but Garcia is pleased with his team’s effort.
“They (Rio Hondo) are a very good ball club. I think they should’ve beat us tonight but not as bad as the score says,” “When your leader goes down people start looking around, checking to see who’s going to pick us up, but I was proud of our kids. I think we played well in the first half but you can’t take anything away from Rio Hondo.
The Warriors also had problems taking advantage of Rio Hondo turnovers that included a turnover on downs and a Marco Garate fumble.
The Bobcats would take the momentum for good in the late second quarter that started with a 43-yard touchdown screen pass from Bobcat quarterback Elijah Pitonez to Garate for a 7-0 lead.
The Warriors would continue to stumble as sophomore quarterback Leo Lara, who took the reins under center after starter A.J. Mendiola moved over to the running back position, fumbled the ball with under a minute to go on a keeper play and watched Rio Hondo linebacker Marc Carrizales return it 36 yards, making it 14-0 at the break.
“The turnover got our momentum going and we came out the second half and kept on moving,” James said. “We have some work to do, but it’s nice to get a win over a quality team.
Alfaro would shut the door on the Warriors following the break, as he scored on runs of one, five and 33 yards to put the Warriors away.
Alfaro finished the night with 84 yards on eight carries all coming in the second half.
“I feel Santa Rosa came out ready to play. They’re a good team that is going to get better,” Alfaro said. “Our o-line picked it up in the second half and I picked up the ball and tried my best to move the chains. I feel like we’re getting better day by day.”
