Apaches overcome turnovers, penalties for 2nd win

GONZALES — The Apaches needed to execute their short passes to open up the offense and head coach Kodi Crane believes they did just that as Gonzales overwhelmed the Austin Crockett Cougars 39-14.

“I think [the short-passing game] started from the first play of the game,” Crane acknowledged as quarterback Garrett Rickman threw a 10-yard dart to Aaron Hunt. “We could still become more consistent with it but I think for the most part we established that and I’m proud of Garrett and proud of our receivers.”

The Apaches opened the game with a quick, six-play, 1:34 drive that started on their own 47-yard line. After forcing a punt on the Cougars’ ensuing drive, the Apaches again scored, despite multiple penalties that were called against the offense to go up 13-0.

“That’s the number one thing we got to clean up,” Crane said of the penalties, “and our kids are well aware of that.”

Meanwhile, the defense again didn’t let up as they had “relentless effort” as Crane described it during their play Friday night.

“[Austin Crockett] did a couple things formation wise we hadn’t seen before so we had to go make a tweak to it at halftime,” he explained. “I feel like our kids are at the level to where we can make those tweaks and they can understand and take that instruction, bring it to the football field and turn that into action and they did that the second half.”

Though the Cougars were able to fool the Apaches later in the first half with their misdirection plays, the defense adjusted, forcing Austin Crockett to go three-and-out twice to start the second half. The Apaches allowed just three first downs in the second half before the Cougars finally marched down the field in the last few minutes of the game on a 12-play, 64-yard touchdown drive, their second touchdown of the night.

“It turns back into assignment football,” Crane said, “and we had to communicate that well with our kids and they adjusted well to it.”

Offensively, running back Joshua Calvin and wide receiver Aaron Hunt had big plays in the backfield. Calvin had a 50-yard rush called back due to a penalty while Hunt had touchdown runs that went for 22 yards and 19 yards.

“I think all our backs were phenomenal,” Crane noted. “I think Joshua ran extremely hard. I think Aaron had a great night carrying the football.”

Ultimately, Crane credited his offensive line for their efforts. The head coach challenged that unit this week, especially after last week’s game where he believed the Apaches needed some more work on the line in order to win football games this season.

The offensive line stepped it up and indeed was a factor in tonight’s win over the Cougars.

“It started with our offensive line,” Crane said. “Whenever they can put our backs in the second level with space then our backs are dynamic enough to do something with the football.”

“I think our offensive line could be the strength of our football team and I think they had a heck of a game tonight and I just want to brag on those guys because they’re good football players.”

Despite the win, the Apaches were plagued with penalties, accumulating eight called penalties in the first half alone. The Apaches also had some turnover issues, with Rickman throwing an interception, a Rogelio Sanchez field goal attempt was blocked and there was discussion with the officials late in the third quarter during Calvin’s 50-yard run in whether or not the ground forced him to fumble.

Either way, Crane believes that for the Apaches to “beat a great football team” they must clean up their penalties and turnovers.

The Apaches hope to do just that as they take on Navarro next, this Friday at Geronimo with kickoff scheduled at 7:30 p.m.