On the road and trailing Monument Valley by two points at halftime and by 10 points early in the third quarter, the Dolores High School football team could have folded.
Instead, the Bears mounted a spirited comeback keyed by junior running back Isaiah Cordova and won, 24-18. Dolores improved to 2-3 on the season with the victory, while Monument Valley dropped to 3-3 overall with the loss.
“I thought (our team) really came together well,” Dolores head coach Ray Davis said. “Our players talked each other up, and (our team) had a really good game.”
Although complete statistics were not available for the contest, Davis said that Cordova rushed for over 200 yards. Freshman fullback Levi Fuller rushed for almost 100 yards, and junior wide receiver Trey Seekins had nearly 100 yards receiving.
Davis said that Fuller, Seekins, and Cordova each scored touchdowns and the head coach credited defensive ends Bryan Escarcega and Wade Charles for their efforts pressuring Monument Valley’s quarterback throughout the fourth quarter.
“Defensively, it was a team deal,” Davis said. “Our defensive ends, Wade Charles and Bryan Escarcega shut down (Monument Valley’s) passing game and put the (our team) on their backs.”
Now one win away from evening their record at 3-3, Dolores will move into Southern Peaks League play with a home game against Monte Vista on Sept. 27. The Bears will finish out their season with games against Rye, Centauri, Igancio and Center.
“We’re small in numbers, and it’s going to be a tough fight all the way through league,” Davis said. “It’s going to be a week by week thing. The nice thing is that we have guys that are stepping up. When we have somebody injured or we have somebody out, we have younger guys that are stepping up and really making a contribution.”