Lights out at Community Stadium as Storm tame the Cougars

ALBUQUERQUE — The Cleveland Storm football team (6-1, 2-0) blanked the Cibola Cougars (2-5, 0-2) at Community Stadium Friday, and ended the game via "mercy rule" in the first minute of the third quarter.

The final: Cleveland 55, Cibola 0.

This is the second straight week that Cleveland has ended a game by way of a "mercy rule" and the third time that the defense did not allow a single point.

In the first play of scrimmage, Cleveland set the tone with a giant Juan Munoz rush that went for a long touchdown.

Then, senior strong safety Micah Hoffman got in on the action and snagged an interception that he would take back for six.

Cleveland wasn't done yet.

In the late first quarter, Cleveland quarterback Jordan Hatch connected with receiver Josh Lyles on a goal line slant pass for another Storm touchdown.

Thanks to the Cleveland offensive line, Hatch had clean pockets to go through many of his reads, and the trio of Storm backs had plenty of holes to run through.

"We have just built a culture on playing aggressive down there, just being nasty and dirty," Cleveland center Ricardo Duran said.

On the ensuing possession, Cleveland's premier edge rusher Psalmon Kegler scored a defensive touchdown off a fumble recovery. This was Kegler's first defensive touchdown in his career, and it all but cemented another Storm win.

"That was my first defensive touchdown, and it was lit! I am so happy that I was able to do especially on this team," Kegler said. Kegler is a ferocious pass rusher with an endless repertoire of pass rushing moves. His game is very reminiscent of Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans.

Also scoring touchdowns for Cleveland were star receiver Jacob Maldonado, season-leading rusher Isaiah Yannis, and running back Samuel Bustillos, who scored two times including the game-ending touchdown early in the third quarter. Bustillos carried the rock most of the game and was elusive and shifty as they come.

"We got it done in two plays to end it [in the third quarter] ... we are who we are, and we're going to keep that rain rolling," Bustillos said.

Takeaways: Cleveland dominates in the trenches (bullies on both sides of the ball), kicker Ivan Sanchez- Ramirez is a weapon, Jordan Hatch doesn't turn over the ball, the running back room is talented and deep, and the run designs are on a "Mike McDaniel" type of level.

Mike McDaniel is the Dolphins head coach, and one of the best play designers in the league, and known for designing run plays based on speed and deception.

The red-hot Storm team look to keep the fire alive as they bring the thunder to Farmington for a match up against Piedra Vista (1-6).

"We are coming! Play after play. The Storm is not dying down anytime soon, so y'all just used to that," Kegler said.