Flowing Wells defeats Amphi 41-20 in rare Saturday game

September 13, 2014 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


Amphitheater running back Dante Anderson (Andy Morales/AIA365.com)

Flowing Wells and Amphitheater found themselves finishing what was started on a day and time usually reserved for Pop Warner. With Flowing Wells leading 21-7 on Friday night, a dramatic lightning storm hit Southern Arizona, causing stoppage of play with 7:19 left in the second quarter.

After almost two hours of delays and discussion, it was decided to finish the game on Saturday morning at 8 am. 

Although Amphi was driving at the time of stoppage, it was clear all momentum was with Flowing Wells and it carried over to Saturday morning when they stopped the Panthers on downs and then scored again on a 12-yard pass from Julio Sandoval to Brandon Gastelum to take a 28-7 lead.

Then things began to go Amphi's way. Amphi took the ball over with 3:08 left in the half and eventually drove down to the 1-yard line on a fourth-down situation. QB Taylor John punched it in to cut the lead down to 28-13 (kick missed), leaving Flowing Wells with only .4 seconds left.

Amphi came out of the locker room knowing they would receive the ball and they put together an 80-yard drive that took up almost nine minutes, scoring on another fourth down play with John hitting Kyle Rodriguez on a 5-yard scoring pass.

Amphi was suddenly down only 28-20 with 3:20 left in the third.

Flowing Wells needed to respond and they did on a 34-yard strike from Sandoval to Dylan Valenzuela to make it 35-20 with 9:12 left in the game. The killer came on the next play as a called short-kick was misplayed and turned into an onsides kick, giving Flowing Wells the ball back.

Flowing Wells took advantage of the situation and put the game away on another Dionte Flores touchdown three minutes later to make the game 41-20.

Everyone knew about Flores and Amphi running back Dante Anderson but Valenzuela proved to be a difference maker.

"Teams have to defend both of them," explained Flowing Wells head coach Mark Brunenkant on Flores and Valenzuela. "In the past defenses would just concentrate on stopping Dionte."

Even though Flowing Wells only won one game last year, with teams keying on Flores, he was still able to rush for over 1,200 yards and he is near 500 yards this year.

Only a sophomore, Valenzuela led all rushers with 118 yards. He was the added element. Flores finished with 107 yards and Anderson had 108 for Amphi.

The loss dropped Amphi to 2-1 on the year but that really doesn't concern Amphi head coach Jorge Mendivil as he gathered his squad after the game to go over what he saw.

"It hurts our pride, I understand that," Mendivil told them, "You are hurt and that's good but we need to focus on our section and it starts with the next game. Take care of everything you can take care of."

The Panthers will host sectional foe Palo Verde (0-3) next Friday for a chance to take an early lead in Section 2 of Division IV while Flowing Wells (3-0) will head out to Empire (1-2) in a non-section game. Flowing Wells will begin sectional play in October.

 

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