The fourth-ranked Socorro Warrior football team (4-1) bounced back from their only defeat last week with a resounding 56-8 road win against the Pojoaque Elks (2-3) on Sept. 25.
With a depleted roster of players, the Warriors remaining starters and substitutes were more than the Elks could handle. The Warrior's offense exploded for nine touchdowns and the defense held the Elks to only one early touchdown.
Coach Damien Ocampo said, “A couple of guys had to step up because of injuries. We had Cherokee Coss, starting at defensive end for us. He did a good job. David Robinson also had to rotate at defensive end. Tyler Zuni also had to step up a bunch at tight end. Freshman Ethan Smith did a pretty good job at tight end also.”
Socorro jumped on the Elks with three touchdowns in the first quarter. Quarterback Zack Esquivel started the scoring with a 60-yard pass to Adrian Miranda. The extra point kick was good by Zach Binger. Aaron McDaniel added another six points with a 5-yard run up the middle. Esquivel threw another 11-yard pass to James Thorton to give the Warriors a 19-0 lead.
Pojoaque scored their lone touchdown of the game with 2:22 left in the first. Quarterback Brian Kohler threw a 66-yard pass to Ryan Wolf. The extra point run for two was good by Kohler's quarterback keeper.
Socorro added four more touchdowns in the second quarter. Esquivel ran for 39-yards for another score. On defense, Esquivel intercepted the ball one minute later. He threw a slant pass to his tight end Senior Tyler Zuni, who took it in for 21-yards and his first varsity touchdown.
Wide receiver Jared Marquez contributed two scores, one on a 29-yard pass from Esquivel and the next on a 8-yard pass from Junior Quarterback Ray Vaiza, who entered the game late in the second half. Socorro went into halftime with a 43-8 lead.
The second half started with Socorro knowing the clock would be running due to the 35 point mercy rule. The lone third quarter score came with 3:24 left on the clock. Thorton ran left for a 24-yard touchdown, and Binger's extra point kick was good.
The final touchdown of the game came with 2:50 left in the fourth quarter. Sophomore fullback Gary Lam ran the ball in from 5-yards scoring his first varsity touchdown.
After five games, the Warriors' offense is averaging 39 points a game and the defense is holding their opponents to only 14 points a game.
“It's kind of crunch time now, said Ocampo. We've got to get better from here on out, because if we don't execute and aren't physical against every opponent, we won't be winning ballgames.”
The Warriors will travel to play the Class 2A Estancia Bears (2-3) on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. This will be the last tune-up game before they go into district play against Hatch.
“Estancia is a very good and tough opponent who has had some starters out,” said Ocampo. “If we go to sleep on them, we're going to be in for it.”
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