Photos by Josh Thompson (Chino Valley Champion) & Gustavo Vargas

Football:

Don’t let the final score fool you, Ayala dominated Colony, 28-14, in Thursday’s season opener at AHS.

The Bulldogs led 21-0, 28-7 and they took a knee at the 1-yard line in the waning moments instead of punching it in.

Ayala got the ball with six minutes to play, and they never allowed Colony to see another offensive possession.

Jedi Hernandez got the Bulldogs on the board with a 3-yard TD run on the opening drive of the game.

Dawuan Nettingham caught a 14-yard TD pass in the first quarter from Alex Way to give AHS a 14-0 lead.

Nathan Pasos inflicted the Titans with a figurative kick in the stones, as he picked up a fumble at the 1-yard line and brought it back for a 99-yard TD and a 21-0 lead.

Colony’s Elijah Ybanez scored on a 14-yard TD run to pull CHS to within 21-7 with 1:38 to play in the half.

Ayala, though, would answer right back.

Alex Way hit Nolan Chan on a 1-yard TD pass with 12 seconds to play in the second quarter.

For all intents and purposes, the Bulldogs defense did the rest.

Jedi Hernandez led the ground game with 97 yards on 17 carries.

Alex Way completed 13 of 20 for 193 yards and two TD’s.

Nolan Reed caught five passes for 83 yards.

Dawaun Nettingham had three receptions for 37 yards and the score.

Hernandez finished with three catches for 43 yards and Brenton Smith reeled in a pair of passes for 31 yards.

Jayson Campos intercepted a pass and brough it back 24 yards.

I asked Ayala coach AJ Gracia to answer the following: What went well last night? Did anything surprise you, good, bad or otherwise? Who played quarterback and how did he perform? What’s one thing other than the win you’re most proud of, and what’s something that will be a focus to not do next week?

Said Coach Gracia: “We were very balanced on offense. We established the run early, got a couple explosive runs, and that set up the passing game. We spread the ball around to Nolan Reed, Dawuan Nettingham, B.J. Smith, Jedi Hernandez, and Nolan Chan. We didn’t give up a sack and Alex Way managed the game perfectly. Defensively, we played lights out. They had a lot of short fields that they had to defend, and we kept them out of the endzone with a short field. We got major turnovers in the redzone and even took a 99-yard fumble return to the endzone (Nathan Pasos). Our special teams need to be more consistent, but we had a lot of great execution and a lot to be excited about moving forward. Honestly, I thought we played up to my expectations of our players.

We could have played a cleaner game, but game one will always have penalties and mental errors that can be cleaned up. Alex Way (senior) played all game and had a very efficient night. I don’t know his stats, but he won the game and is 1-0. And that is all that matters. I was proud of the intensity and focus we played with. Our coaching staff did a great job all offseason and it showed with a 14-0 start. I loved the turnovers and pressures on their quarterback that our defense caused. Finally, we finished the fourth quarter. With over six minutes left in the game, we got the ball and never gave it up. We had a chance to punch it in on the 1-yard line, but we decided to let the clock run out. We executed in critical situations and that is something we emphasize, which makes me proud.”

Up next: The Bulldogs will host Desert Pines of Las Vegas next Saturday at 7.

To view a photo gallery by Josh Thompson, click on the Facebook link here:  Facebook

To view a photo gallery of Gus Vargas, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook

Box Score:
C: 0-7-0-7-(14)
A: 14-14-0-0-(28)

Scoring:
A: Jedi Hernandez 3 run (Jaden Hernandez kick)
A: Dawuan Nettingham 14 pass from Alex Way (Jaden Hernandez kick)
A: Nathan Pasos 99 fumble return (Jaden Hernandez kick)
C: Elijah Ybanez 14 run (Kevin Barraza kick)
A: Nolan Chan 1 pass from Alex Way (Jaden Hernandez kick)
C: TD pass (Kevin Barraza kick)

Records: Colony (0-1); Ayala (1-0)