It wasn't just a big win, it was a big win for Homecoming.
And to top it all off, it was the first win for Ignacio on their new football field,
Just minutes into the game on Friday night, the tone was set for what would ultimately be an authoritative 49-6 Homecoming Week triumph.
"Today's the greatest day of my life so far," declared senior offensive lineman/defensive end Dalton Labarthe. "I mean, first off, being Homecoming King, then just being able to play with my brothers out here, it's probably the best feeling ever!"
"We just knew that we were the better team," said senior quarterback Zach Weinreich, who passed for an unofficial 229 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-22 accuracy, "and if we came in here and played football, we'd win."
With IHS having already forced Forrest Pejsa into his first punt on the Bears' sixth snap, senior Timmy Plehinger penetrated into Dolores' backfield three plays into the guests' second possession, emphatically batted Justin Purkat's pass backwards, then leapt and snagged it at the DHS 15 with only empty turf visible ahead of him.
"I saw my opportunity, and just wanted to take it!" said Plehinger, who also grabbed three of his own QB's throws for 38 yards. "Wanted to start the game out on a good note, and that's what we did!"
Senior Lorenzo Pena then booted the first of his seven (in as many attempts) points-after for a 7-0 lead with 4:18 left in the first quarter. And though Dolores (3-3, 0-2 SPC) struck back in short order-a nine-yard Purkat keeper capping a penalty-prolonged drive with 10:21 left in the second-their one true big play, Fuller's stellar runback, had next to no impact.
A botched hold on Pejsa's PAT led to a botched Medina pitch to the unprepared Pejsa, and Ignacio junior Marcus Chapman recovered to preserve the locals' 7-6 lead, which would grow, and grow quickly.
After Pejsa's kickoff went for a touchback, the 'Cats (3-3, 1-1) executed a six-play, 80-yard drive ended by a three-yard Isaiah Jacket run with 7:52 left before halftime. Senior Ethan Appenzeller then intercepted Purkat's first-down throw at the DHS 37, and six plays later Weinreich hit Chapman for a 14-yard score with 5:54 left.
Looking for another Dolores-crippling play, head coach "Ponch" Garcia called for a deceptive onside kick, and senior Dalton Mickey smothered it at the Bear 46. Six more plays later, Ignacio was up 28-6 after Weinreich plowed in from a yard out and Pena booted the extra point.
"We came into this game just wanting this win, the coaches wanting this win," junior receiver Kruz Pardo said. "Coach Garcia, he's like, 'I've never said this word before a game, but let's go out there and WIN.'"
Following a slow start-freshman Ocean Hunter's recovery of another onside kick aside-to the third quarter, which included Fuller falling upon an Appenzeller fumble, Pardo (5-138 receiving) re-energized the crew with a 74-yard TD catch along the Dolores sideline and 3:59 left.
"I was running my route hard, saw he was throwing it my way," Pardo said. "I mean, it's not every play where he just throws it at me, so every time he throws to me I've got to come down with it."
"He's a great receiver," Weinreich said. "I just had to throw it up and let him make a play, and he did!"
Weinreich carried in a three-yard touchdown with 1:48 still left in the third, and sophomore Lawrence Valdez enacted the mercy-rule running clock with 3:26 left in the fourth via a two-yard carry, eight plays after senior Stocker Robbins pounced on a Skieler Grooms fumble at the DHS 31.
"Like our coach said, do our jobs and we'll be there!" Labarthe said.
Purkat was held to 25 yards unofficially on 3-of-16 passing and had three throws picked off. He was also held to 21 yards rushing on 15 carries while Grooms was minus-4 on 12.
Pena, meanwhile, gained 63 yards on 11 tries and Valdez 77 on just five, to go with two catches for 21 yards.
"The first (Homecoming win) on the new field.it doesn't get any better than that," summarized Weinreich, whose legs (11-53 rushing) effectively complemented his arm. "It was just a great day."
Up next, the Bobcats will host La Jara Centauri at 1 p.m. tomorrow. The Falcons (3-3, 1-1) will come to town just over a week removed from an unusual 8-6 win at Monte Vista (2-4, 1-1) in a rematch of what's typically been the conference championship-deciding battle.
