Lancers Romp Riles Up Homecoming Crowd

 

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - What better way to entertain a packed house on Homecoming night than with the 77-13 rout the Cordova High School football team performed October 5 against Florin.

The Lancers lit up the scoreboard behind an explosive offense (364 yards on 22 plays) and a clamp-down defense (only seven first downs allowed and five forced turnovers).

“It was nice to actually get all cylinders clicking,” Lancers head coach John McCoy said. “We haven’t done that until tonight. We were able to run the ball some games, we were able to throw the ball some games – but tonight we were able to do everything.”

The victory brings Cordova to 3-5 overall and 2-0 in Greater Sacramento League play.

“Coming into the game, we knew they were going to be short-handed. Our thing was, we wanted to play against ourselves, not the level of competition,” Cordova assistant coach Charlie Ruiz said. “We wanted to reach our potential. … We did what we were supposed to do.”

Johnele Sanders finished 7 for 8 passing with 194 yards and two touchdowns through the air to go with three scores on the ground.

Alvin Banks caught four passes for 105 yards, including a screen pass he transformed into a 58-yard touchdown.

"We caught them on a blitz,” Ruiz said of that play. “Johnele just floated it over the defenders hands, we got a great block on the outside and Alvin did what he does. It was awesome.”

Jaylen Jones scored on runs of 22 and 26 yards while Raymond Fite had a 30-yard touchdown jaunt.

Sanders had touchdown runs from 33, 5 and 7 yards – that last one on 4th-and-inches.

“I’m excited because our main guys – Jaylen, Ray, Alvin, Johnele, Jeremiah – had great games,” Ruiz said.

Defensively, the Lancers allowed just 174 yards while creating opportunities with turnovers.

Dashawn Bradley hauled in a pair of interceptions while Dumaurier Hackett and Kelton Stevens both forced fumbles.

Jeremiah Bankett and Fite each scooped up fumbles and rumbled to the house, with returns of 48 and 55 yards respectively, and Trevor Dix recovered another fumble.

Andrew Turner and Elijah Jenkins each had sacks and Ki Allen blocked a punt.

Cordova has a bye October 12 before hosting Natomas in league play October 19.