Scorpions seek first win from next two on road2 min read

Zack Garcia/Larson Newspapers

Sedona Red Rock High School will look for its first win on a two-game road swing after giving up only the fourth win for Paradise Honors High School in its three years as a varsity football program Friday, Aug. 29.

But the 14-7 loss in the Scorpions’ home opener held little surprise for head coach Ken Selle. Unlike Piñon High School, which didn’t share any tape with the Scorpions prior to hosting them Friday, Sept. 5, Selle could drive three hours to Tonopah to scout the Panthers and junior Jace Ogorchock.

“Our game plan was fine,” he said. “We knew [Ogorchock] was going to be the dominant runner. He did a nice job with cutbacks and made things happen.”

Two fumbles, however, could not be scouted. Ultimately, they would make all the difference.

“We obviously have to tighten up on protecting the football,” Selle said. “They were bringing numbers to the tackle and going for the strip.”

Ogorchock picked up the first miscue by senior fullback Scott Moker and ran it back 45 yards for the opening score early in the first quarter, then sneaked in from the SRRHS 1-yard-line and added a two-point conversion run three plays after a fumbled handoff between senior running back Andre Davis and junior quarterback Derrick Johnson with under eight minutes to play in the fourth.

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“They brought a lot of pressure off the edge; we had trouble with blocking,” Selle said. “It was unfortunate that occurred, but even then, I thought we had a chance on the next series. But we stalled out.”

Unable to sustain a final scoring drive and with senior starting quarterback Max Hauserman out with an injured ankle, a Scorpions offense making the transition from last season’s triple option to a spread pass attack, running trap plays out of zone reads, was forced to punt with under four minutes to go after Johnson was sacked at his 37-yard-line.

“It’s a work in progress for any quarterback in this offense,” Selle said. “Playing in the triple option’s a totally different animal.”

Ogorchock, who shed first tackles all night on his way to rushing for a game-high 133 yards, was able to run out the clock — with help from a key offsides penalty against the Scorpions on second down. SRRHS was not only hampered by 40 yards in penalties but also held to only nine first downs on 20 fewer plays than the Panthers.

“We struggled a little bit in the first half offensively, but I’m proud of the way the kids came out in the second half,” he said. “We went down the field after a nice stop and got a score.”

For the full story, please see the Friday, Sept. 5, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.

George Werner

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