Photo By Stan Bonifacio Sports Photography: Cole Yentsch and the Safford Bulldogs upended Jeremiah Martinez and the Pima Roughriders 14-7 on Thursday night.
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – This year’s battle of the blue in the Gila Valley ended with the Safford Bulldogs leaving Edd Hubbard Field with a 14-7 victory over the host Pima Roughriders in their home opener Thursday night.
“We had a very poor performance last week and we just wanted to come out and prove that we were a better team than that – then what we played last week,” Safford head coach Robert Park said. “And I feel like tonight they played like they’re capable of playing. It was just the effort. It was the ability to just give it everything they had and I feel like they did that tonight. I think that was the main difference is that we just wanted to show that we were a better team than that.”
Safford enjoyed good field position for most of the night, often starting in Pima’s territory, even off a kickoff return. Conversely, Pima started inside its own 20 on multiple occasions, including off a kickoff return as well.
Possessions were at a premium in the first half, with Safford handling the ball four times and Pima getting just three chances at it. That made turnovers all the more important, but the teams nullified each other in the first half with Pima tossing an interception and Safford losing a fumble.
Pima surged in the beginning and had a good opening drive behind big runs from Jeremiah Martinez and sly plays from its sophomore quarterback Cedrick Grimes.
Martinez had a 37-yard run down the sideline in the first to put Pima in a good position, but Carlos Arbizo stepped in front of a Grimes offering the very next play and the interception gave Safford the ball at their own 7-yard line.
“I took a gamble this week and changed up the defensive game plan a little,” Coach Park said. “And they bought into it. I just told the guys, ‘Hey, I really feel like if you guys will execute this game plan defensively this week you’ll give us a chance against Pima.’ And I couldn’t ask for better execution from them on defense. I was very pleased because we know what kind of a power Pima is.”
Later in the second quarter, Pima pinned Safford back on their own 13. So, a conservative run team like Safford is going to try to pound some yards and breathing room, right? Of course, we were wrong, and instead, coach Park dialed up a deep bomb and Safford quarterback Jevyn Elliott threw a deep bomb to Cole Goodman who had gotten five yards beyond any defender. The pass hit Goodman in step and he easily trotted in for the 87-yard touchdown to put Safford up 7-0. Goodman finished the game with 3 catches for 144 yards and 2 TDs.
The score would stay the same through halftime as Safford’s defense smothered Pima and Xaiver Owens came up with a big sack for an 8-yard loss forcing a Pima punt.
The Roughriders came out in full force in the third quarter and marched downfield behind runs by Martinez.
“Martinez is a load,” Coach Park said. “He’s a horse. So, just being able to slow them down . . . that was great.” I was so proud of them.”
Then, on 2nd and 6 from the 36, Grimes spotted Preston Russell over the middle. Russell snagged the catch, absorbed a big hit from Goodman, and stayed on his feet long enough to dive into the end zone to tie the game. However, a holding penalty negated the touchdown and Pima ended up having to punt.
The Roughriders’ defense then answered the call with their backs against the wall and Safford threatening late in the third. Brock Haws forced a group sack of Elliot on 4th and 3 to give the ball back to Pima.
The Roughriders then moved back downfield and got a 1st and goal just inside the 10 after Grimes hit Russell on a slant over the middle. Safford’s goal line defense held, however, and Pima turned the ball over on downs.
The fourth quarter started with the Bulldogs facing a 3rd and 1 from their own 19. Pima jumped into the backfield and forced running back Cole Yentsch to spin out and head to the sideline. There he was met by Joe Palmer and Riley Flowers, who knocked the ball loose and it was recovered by Wade Peterson for the Roughriders at Safford’s 22.
A few plays later Grimes hit Martinez on an 11-yard TD pass and he strolled into the end zone to tie it up at 7-7 with 10:48 left in the game.
Safford returned the ensuing kickoff to the 45-yard line and on the very next play Elliot hit Goodman again behind the defense for the decided 45-yard TD, and Safford was up for good, 14-7.
Pima kept fighting, however, and had one real last shot that ended when a scrambling Grimes threw over the middle (usually not a good idea) and right to Safford interior lineman David Cruz who got the rare lineman INT.
After Safford ran out the clock and kicked it back to Pima with seconds remaining, Cruz finished it off for good with a sack.
Safford (0-1 conference, 1-1 overall) will next host the Florence Gophers at the Bulldogs’ home opener of their new artificial turf field on Sept. 6. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Pima (1-0 conference, 1-1 overall) will have a week to regroup before traveling up The Hill to face the Morenci Wildcats on Sept. 13, starting at 7 p.m.
