Sporadic Skyline topples Corona del Sol to move to 3-0

September 12, 2014 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Skyline's football team dominated Corona del Sol at times on Friday night. On as many occasions Skyline penalties and the like kept giving Corona del Sol life.

Corona hung around until the final minutes, but Skyline managed to stay unscathed on the season with a 28-18 victory over the Aztecs in a Division I game at Hascall Henshaw Stadium.

"We have to keep getting better and I don't think I saw that tonight," Skyline coach Angelo Paffumi said. "They couldn't move the ball against us in the first half. In the second half they made some good adjustments and we didn't respond fast enough. We can't have the penalities we had tonight. We let them back in the game and they took advantage."

Paffumi, however, won't give the win back for lack of style points. Skyline (3-0) overcame two first-quarter turnovers -- both in Corona territory. The Coyotes managed to score in the final seconds of the first period on a 7-yard run by Dylon Gillette. Skyline's defense meanwhile was stopping Corona in its tracks and getting good field position for the offense in doing so.

Less than a minute in to the second quarter, Skyline opted for some razzle-dazzle with a reverse pass from Cory Anderson to Manny Ruiz that was good for 60 yards and a TD to make it 14-0.

To that point Corona del Sol had managed all of 11 yards of offense. That didn't change appreciably the rest of the half, but a a trio of 15-yard penalties aided Corona in a 60-yard scoring march that ended with a 9-yard TD pass from quarterback Gaige Carter to Tyler Stehr with 2:23 left in the half.

For all its statistical dominance, including three sacks and the recovery of a muffed punt that led to its first TD, Skyline was up only 17-6 at half. Skyline's offense managed to get place kicker Daniel Espino in range for a 32-yard field goal as time ran out in the second period.

First-year Corona del Sol coach and alum Cory Nenaber and staff made adjustments in the second half and a running game limited to minus yardage in the first half suddenly began to click. The Aztecs (1-2) controlled the ball all but four plays in the third period doing most of the damage on the ground. A lost fumble ended Corona's first possession of the period and the third possession carried over to the first play of the final period.

Carter, who was subbing for starter Matt Asta, did the honors on a 3-yard run. A two-point conversion attempt failed and the Aztecs were within 17-12 with nearly a quarter to play. Carter finished 13-of-26 for 157 yards and two TDs through the air.

Simplicity and execution took over two plays later as Skyline called for a trap play that worked as diagrammed. Amarii Keyes (12 carries 107 yards) burst up the middle, broke one tackle near midfield and finished off a 70-yard TD scamper. Adding a two-point conversion, Skyline's lead was 25-12. A second field goal from 30 yards out by Espino with less than four minutes left made it 28-12.

Skyline did not finish strong. Carter, who took a beating with four more sacks in the final quarter, fired a 53-yard TD pass to Stehr with 48 seconds left. Corona followed recovering an onside kick, but was stopped on downs with seven seconds left. Skyline's Cody Kleinman had three sacks and a fumble recovery to pace the defense.