Carlsbad CA– Army-Navy Academy took on Vincent Memorial High School out of Calexico, in a non-Pacific League contest Friday night. It was the first anniversary of the dedication of Bliss Stadium and Maffucci Field at the Academy but the night belonged to VMHS.
Turnovers and penalties were the story for the Warriors of Army Navy Academy in the first half. Warrior quarterback, John Carter hit Isaac Ross on a 26 yard reception that got the Academy down to the Scots 44 yard-line, Carter was called for intentional grounding and with 3rd down an 19, Carter threw a strike to Ross that would have been close to a first down but Ross coughed up the ball and the Scots recovered. VMHS drove down to the 15 on the resulting possession but the drive stalled and the Scots settled for a 20 field goal 3-0 with 3:57 remaining in the first quarter.
The Warriors fumbled the ball on the ensuing kick-off giving the Scots good field position but the Warriors were able to hold VMHS without a score. The Warriors got the ball back and on third and long, fumbled the ball again, twice.
The Scots made it 10-0 when Ernesto Araujo went in untouched with 9:18 remaining in the half. The Warriors were unable to move the ball on the their next possession and that’s when the hard hitting game took a frightening turn.
The Scot’s Ernesto Araujo took the ball up the middle on a punishing run and was swarmed by a pack of Warriors. After the players got up from the pile, one Warrior remained motionless on the ground. William Lua remained motionless, with the Warriors trainer, for almost 20 minutes until paramedics arrived, from the Carlsbad Fire Department, strapped the player to a backboard and transported him to the hospital. Word from the trainer was Lua was breathing and talking with motion in his fingers and toes but no further information on his condition is available at this time.
After play resumed, VMHS quarterback, Hector Robinson hit Roberto Valadez for a 30 yard touchdown and with the PAT, it was 17-0.
The Warriors got on the board late in the first half on a 60 yard TD reception by Ross and the score was 17-6 at the half after the Warriors two-point conversion failed.
VMHS scored in the third quarter on an 8 play 57 yard drive to make it 24-6. The Warriors made the game interesting on a pick 6 by Isaac Ross for 61 yards. Ross added two more on the conversion, 24-14 with 11:07 left in the game. VMHS scored the final touchdown of the game on a quarterback keeper and preserving a 31-14 victory.
Up next for the 0-2 Warriors is a road game against Horizon Christian Academy (1-2) who beat Palo Verde Valley 48-7.
Other Local Scores
Oceanside- 24 Chaparral- 0 (Temecula, CA)
El Camino- 21 Mira Mesa- 14
Santa Fe Christian-7 Carlsbad- 35
La Costa Canyon- 21 Hoover- 9
Vista- 7 Steele Canyon- 25
San Pasqual- 12 Rancho Buena Vista- 15
Mission Hills- 37 Bonita Vista- 0
San Marcos- 63 Escondido- 15
La Jolla- 52 Fallbrook- 55