Cleveland Storm shutout Panthers in downpour

CLEVELAND 54, PIEDRA VISTA 0

FARMINGTON - It was a stormy night at Hutchinson Stadium in Farmington on Friday as the visiting Cleveland Storm (7-1, 3-0 in 6A-1) blew away the Panthers 54-0 in the midst of a downpour.

The Storm did have some trouble getting into rhythm, but only because they scored three touchdowns on their first six plays and didn’t get a chance to get in a groove.

Piedra Vista (1-7, 0-3 in 6A-1), on the other hand, struggled to move the ball at all. Their first four drives all ended in three-and-outs. They also lost two fumbles in their own territory to give Cleveland a short field.

“We came out excited and had a good time,” said Storm head coach Robert Garza. “These guys played good.”

The Cleveland Storm had eight total touchdowns on the night, spread between seven different players--two for Munoz and one each for Ajay Vigil, Samuel Bustillos, Evan Nanez, Jacob Maldonado, Angel Gallegos and QB Jordan Hatch. Six of those touchdowns were in the first half (Hatch and Nanez were in the third quarter.)

Nothing could stand Hatch’s way as he led his team to a 42-0 halftime score.

“He’s got a lot of weapons. I’m really proud of him and the way he’s getting that ball out and where it needs to be,” said Storm head coach Robert Garza after the game.

The Storm got the ball to start the second half. After a long kick return, Hatch hit Maldonado for a 15-yard gain to get Cleveland inside the Panthers 5-yard line.

With the rain intensifying, Hatch clutched the ball to his chest, tucked his head and powered through for a 4-yard touchdown run, making the score 48-0. With the CHS crowd yelling, “Please, sir! Let’s go home!”, the Storm attempted a two-point conversion. Unfortunately, they were stuffed at the line and both the game and the rain continued.

The Panthers fumbled the next possession but managed to hold the Storm to a punt for the first time all night. …but Piedra Vista punted it right back.

Storm freshman Evan Nanez must have been sick of the rain. He returned the Panthers final punt 53 yards for the game-ending touchdown.

Cleveland defeated Piedra Vista 56-0, by way of the Mercy Rule, with 39 seconds left in the third quarter.

“All year, we’ve been trying to get better and better, and I feel like we are playing pretty high-level football right now,” said Garza.

Next, Cleveland takes on the 4th-ranked Volcano Vista Hawks (7-1, 3-0 in 6A-1) at home, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.