Citizen Staff Writer
SAHUARITA 40
CATALINA 15
CHRISTOPHER VECK
sports@tucsoncitizen.com
A huge game on the ground from an unlikely source powered Sahuarita to a 40-15 victory over visiting Catalina on Friday night.
Quarterback Kody Day provided the heroics with 201 rushing yards on 20 carries and a pair of touchdowns, one off a 47-yard run. Day added a 12-yard score through the air to Andre Howard, as well as his place-kicking duties.
“We kept running the same play over and over because it worked until they picked up on it,” Day said. “My line did great.”
Sahuarita starter Allonte Singfield, who entered the game as one of the state’s hottest running backs, rushed for 168 yards on seven carries before being pulled from offensive duties in the middle of the second quarter after injuring a hand.
The extent of the injury was unclear, and it was not known if he will miss time.
Before the injury, Singfield was as electric as ever, scoring his lone touchdown on a 67-yard run on the first play from scrimmage.
Sahuarita (4-1, 1-1 in the Class 4A Gila Region) amassed 394 rushing yards and 36 through the air.
“We’d like to throw it a little bit more, but a couple times when we did try to throw, we didn’t protect very well,” Sahuarita coach Bernie McCall said. “If you’re running the ball, that means the clock’s moving and if you’ve got the lead, it’s not all bad.”
Midway through the fourth quarter, Brandon Rakowski scored on a 4-yard run for Sahuarita.
After the ensuing kickoff, Colton Smith intercepted the first pass thrown by Catalina and returned it 41 yards for the game’s final score.
Catalina (1-4, 0-2) had 252 yards of offense: 179 rushing, 73 passing.
The Trojans were led by Ray Morales, who had 121 rushing yards on 12 carries and a touchdown. Quarterback Daniel McIver added 54 yards on 13 carries.
Sahuarita hosts Palo Verde next week. Catalina plays Cholla at Pueblo High School.