Holcomb Longhorns stampede Cimarron Bluejays 49-10

Courtesy of Kirk Hutchinson
Holcomb, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Holcomb rebounded from last week’s season-opening loss to Liberal with a resounding 49-10 win over Cimarron. The Longhorns scored every time they touched the football in the 1st half, building a 35-3 lead at halftime. Holcomb then scored on their first two possessions of the 2nd half, to build a 49-3 lead midway through the 3rd quarter.

The Longhorns received the opening kick-off and launched an 8-play, 61-yard drive, led by the running of Damon Mesa. Mesa then pushed his way into the end zone from three yards out. With Manny Anguiano’s extra point, Holcomb led 7-0 at the 8:22 mark in the 1st quarter.

Following a Bluejay punt, the Longhorns started their next drive at the Cimarron 45, and five plays later, Mesa found the end zone again, from 4 yards out. The PAT made it 14-0, with 3:41 still to go in the opening stanza.

Cimarron then put together a 7-minute drive, which ended with David Mendez hitting a 33-yard field goal, putting the Bluejays on the board with 8:33 to play in the 2nd quarter.

Holcomb’s next drive again took only five plays and Manny Reyes found paydirt from five yards out for the first of his three rushing touchdowns. Anguiano’s extra point gave Holcomb a 21-3 lead at the 5:54 mark in the 2nd quarter.

The Longhorns forced another Bluejay punt, and then drove 66 yards in 8 plays. This time Keegan Johnson hit Mesa with a 16-yard TD pass on 4th down. The PAT made the score 28-3 with 1:40 still to play in the half.

On Cimarron’s next possession, Greg Martinez picked off a Trace Kopper pass and returned it to the Bluejay 19. One play later Keegan Johnson hit Dom Orosco with the TD pass and the Longhorns took a 35-3 lead into the locker room.

Mesa finished the 1st half with 116 yards on the ground, two rushing touchdowns and one receiving TD. Holcomb rolled up 264 yards total offense in the 1st half.

The 2nd half did not start well for Cimarron as Kopper threw his second interception of the night, this one picked off by Dom Orosco, who returned it to the Bluejay 19. It took Holcomb two plays to score, with Reyes dashing in from 9 yards out. Holcomb led 42-3 with 10:25 still to play in the 3rd quarter.

After another Bluejay punt, the Longhorns rolled 56 yards in three plays, capped by Reyes’ 27-yard TD run. Reyes finished the night with three rushing touchdowns. Manny Anguiano added the extra point, hitting 7 out of 7 tries.

Cimarron scored a late touchdown on an 18-yard run by Kopper, set up by a Payton Dye interception of a Luke Thyne pass. Holcomb’s junior varsity team ran out the clock and the Longhorns celebrated the 49-10 win.

The Horns racked up 358 total yards, 206 on the ground and 152 through the air. Keegan Johnson hit on 9 of 10 passes with two TDs. Damon Mesa and Manny Reyes each accounted for three touchdowns. Cimarron managed only 125 yards total offense.

The Bluejays are 0-2 and will host Colby next Friday. The Longhorns are 1-1 and travel to play winless Ulysses next Friday.