Marcos de Niza took down Gilbert 49-7 Friday in a game that was seemingly decided just minutes in.
The Padres (5-1) got on the board early when backup quarterback Andrew Molina connected with receiver Paul Elvira on a 15-yard touchdown pass. Marcos took a 7-0 lead and wouldn’t look back from there. Starting quarterback Josh Eckley was sidelined with a minor shoulder injury, as precaution. The Padres were also without a few key starters in the matchup.
“We had a game plan and stuck to it,” Elvira said. “Our game plan was to come out here and throw all over these guys and then run it down their throats.”
By halftime the Padres would be up 28-7 thanks to two Molina passing touchdowns and two others on the ground.
Gilbert (1-5) would get on the board midway through the second quarter when quarterback Conner Helvig ran for a 37-yard touchdown cutting the Padres lead to 21-7. Helvig would end the night with 8 carries for 93 yards rushing and the Tigers lone touchdown. He was also 11-for-23 passing with three interceptions and 94 yards passing.
“The momentum turned against us (early) and he felt the need to do something right away. He just got flustered more than he should have,” Gilbert coach Leland Rodgers said of Helvig.
The momentum Gilbert gained from their scoring drive quickly diminished when Padres receiver Anthony Snyder returned their on-side kick attempt 60 yards for a touchdown. Marcos would take the lead 28-7 going in to the half.
“We’ve had a tough schedule but we’ve learned that if we don’t play error free ball and if we don’t play for four quarters this score is going to be what happens consistently to us,” Rodgers said.
Marcos would add on to their lead with three more touchdowns in the third including two more from Molina. He would finish the night with 16–for-21 with 246 yards passing and four touchdowns.
“We were worried, we had two big leaders not out there and we lost Eckley,” said Marcos coach Roy Lopez. “Some of the boys stepped up, and our defense played solid.”
On the ground Marcos was led by running back Antonio Walker. Walker finished with 9 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Box score
First downs: MDN 11; G 11.
Rushes-Yards: MDN 21-237; G 21-132
Comp-Att-Int: MDN 16-21-0; G 11-23-3
Passing yards: MDN 246; G 94
Fumbles-Lost: MDN 1-0; G 1-0
Penalty yards: MDN 30; G 10.
M - Elvira 15 pass from Molina (Jones kick)
M - Moore 4 pass from Molina (Jones kick)
M - Warner 5 run (Jones kick)
G - Helvig 37 run (Carver kick)
M - Snyder 60 yard onside- kick return (Jones kick)
M - Warner 15 run (Jones kick)
M - Johnson 13 pass from Molina (Jones kick)
M - Elvira 6 pass from Molina (Jones kick)
