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Holtville High's Steven Drye avoids getting tackled in the first quarter of Friday's game against Foothills Christian in Holtville. (STEVEN ESPERANZA PHOTO / October 13, 2012) |
HOLTVILLE — Running, throwing and on defense, Holtville High junior Josh Osuna seemingly did it all for the Vikings as they routed Foothills Christian, 42-0, in their Manzanita League opener here Friday.
Osuna had three rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown, an interception return for a score and he threw for a two-point conversion as Holtville (6-1, 1-0 ML) blasted Foothills Christian of El Cajon (3-3, 0-2 ML).
“We were ready for a tough game and we were into it from the opening kickoff,” said Osuna, who finished with 54 yards rushing on 13 carries. “It was our homecoming and we were fired up and determined to win it for ourselves and the fans.”
Holtville’s defense played inspired football, holding the Knights to just four first downs in the game and 66 total yards. The Vikings were determined to shut out the visitors, limiting Foothills Christian to just 3 yards from scrimmage in the second half and no first downs.
“It was a big goal of ours to hold them to zero,” said junior linebacker Lance Angulo. “Everybody stepped up and did their job. We came out tonight and gave 110 percent like our coaches always stress to us. We went up there last year and spoiled their homecoming and we were determined not to let them pay us back here tonight.”
The Vikings struck early when quarterback Steven Drye connected with tight end David Lucero for a 54-yard touchdown pass on just the fourth play of the game. Osuna then found Ben Abatti open in the end zone after a botched snap on the point-after attempt to give Holtville an 8-0 lead.
After a Knights’ fumble, the Vikings needed just five plays to score their second touchdown when Osuna scored on a 3-yard run with 5:15 left in the opening quarter to give Holtville a 14-0 lead.
Osuna made it a 20-0 lead with 1:17 left in the quarter when he scored on another 3-yard run.
“We’ve got a huge offensive line. I think from one end of it to the other those guys average about 250 pounds,” Osuna said. “I just follow those guys and find the holes to run through.”
The Vikings scored with 1:22 left in the second quarter on a fake field goal as Osuna took the ball as the holder, sprinted to his right and threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Lucero. Osuna wasn’t done in the half as he intercepted a ball with 29 seconds left and returned it 44 yards for a score that put Holtville up 36-0 at the half.
“When that play came in that we were going to fake it, I was happy. I don’t get to play quarterback too much so I wanted to make the most of it,” Osuna said. “On the interception I had about five guys lined up there blocking for me and that made it easy for me to get to the end zone.”
Osuna played quarterback the entire fourth quarter and led Holtville on a seven-play, 42-yard drive for the final score of the game, a 1-yard plunge for his fifth score of the night.
“He (Osuna) has really stepped up and played well throughout the entire season,” said Holtville head coach Keith Smith Jr. “He’s small in stature but he’s such a tough kid and he plays hard every night and on every play.”
The Vikings travel to play Vincent Memorial in Manzanita League action on Friday at Southwest High in El Centro, while the Knights travel to Calipatria in another league matchup, both at 7 p.m. Friday.
Osuna had three rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown, an interception return for a score and he threw for a two-point conversion as Holtville (6-1, 1-0 ML) blasted Foothills Christian of El Cajon (3-3, 0-2 ML).
“We were ready for a tough game and we were into it from the opening kickoff,” said Osuna, who finished with 54 yards rushing on 13 carries. “It was our homecoming and we were fired up and determined to win it for ourselves and the fans.”
Holtville’s defense played inspired football, holding the Knights to just four first downs in the game and 66 total yards. The Vikings were determined to shut out the visitors, limiting Foothills Christian to just 3 yards from scrimmage in the second half and no first downs.
“It was a big goal of ours to hold them to zero,” said junior linebacker Lance Angulo. “Everybody stepped up and did their job. We came out tonight and gave 110 percent like our coaches always stress to us. We went up there last year and spoiled their homecoming and we were determined not to let them pay us back here tonight.”
The Vikings struck early when quarterback Steven Drye connected with tight end David Lucero for a 54-yard touchdown pass on just the fourth play of the game. Osuna then found Ben Abatti open in the end zone after a botched snap on the point-after attempt to give Holtville an 8-0 lead.
After a Knights’ fumble, the Vikings needed just five plays to score their second touchdown when Osuna scored on a 3-yard run with 5:15 left in the opening quarter to give Holtville a 14-0 lead.
Osuna made it a 20-0 lead with 1:17 left in the quarter when he scored on another 3-yard run.
“We’ve got a huge offensive line. I think from one end of it to the other those guys average about 250 pounds,” Osuna said. “I just follow those guys and find the holes to run through.”
The Vikings scored with 1:22 left in the second quarter on a fake field goal as Osuna took the ball as the holder, sprinted to his right and threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Lucero. Osuna wasn’t done in the half as he intercepted a ball with 29 seconds left and returned it 44 yards for a score that put Holtville up 36-0 at the half.
“When that play came in that we were going to fake it, I was happy. I don’t get to play quarterback too much so I wanted to make the most of it,” Osuna said. “On the interception I had about five guys lined up there blocking for me and that made it easy for me to get to the end zone.”
Osuna played quarterback the entire fourth quarter and led Holtville on a seven-play, 42-yard drive for the final score of the game, a 1-yard plunge for his fifth score of the night.
“He (Osuna) has really stepped up and played well throughout the entire season,” said Holtville head coach Keith Smith Jr. “He’s small in stature but he’s such a tough kid and he plays hard every night and on every play.”
The Vikings travel to play Vincent Memorial in Manzanita League action on Friday at Southwest High in El Centro, while the Knights travel to Calipatria in another league matchup, both at 7 p.m. Friday.
