Long field goal lifts Desert Oasis past Spring Valley — PHOTOS
Hitting the right upright on an extra point would be enough to throw off any kicker.
Zion Gonsalves had to put the miss out of his mind as he lined up late in the third quarter for a 42-yard field goal.
He did just that, making the kick with 1:53 left to put host Desert Oasis ahead in an eventual 9-8 victory over Spring Valley in Thursday’s season opener for both football teams.
“All I was thinking was I have to make it,” Gonsalves said. “I missed the one earlier, so I had to do it for the team. I had to redeem myself.”
The last time these teams met, Desert Oasis defeated Spring Valley 41-20 in 2019. A lot of things were different in 2019.
Both teams were happy to be back on the field even as both dealt with eligibility issues that are a running theme throughout the valley as schools try to return after COVID-19 shut down the 2020 season.
“These kids got a year stripped away from them, so I feel great for the kids,” Desert Oasis coach Brant Smith said. “They deserve this.”
Spring Valley took an 8-6 lead into halftime on Jaden Linzie’s 2-yard touchdown run and ensuing 2-point conversion pass with 1:11 left in the first half.
The Diamondbacks had taken a 6-0 lead in the first quarter when Tyler Stott completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Avery Aliaga. Stott completed four consecutive passes for 89 yards on the drive, the first a 49-yarder to Isaiah Flasher on third-and-10 from his 11-yard line.
Stott completed 15 of 28 passes for 189 yards, but was intercepted twice.
After struggling all night to pick up first downs, the Diamondbacks moved the chains three times on their final drive to run out the clock.
“We’re going to take a little time to jell on offense,” Smith said.
Smith told his team to expect a tough game from Spring Valley, and no question, this wasn’t a repeat of 2019.
Grizzlies coach Marcus Teal didn’t even want to bring up 2019 with his team. His focus is on the future, and now he has a promising opener on which to build.
“It’s just nice to be back out here again playing football and coaching football and being around these boys and watching them run around,” Teal said. “But it was tough. We thought we were prepared for tonight, and we felt that we had a good game plan and it went to perfection defensively. Our offense, we’ve got to put the ball in the (end) zone when we get in the red zone.
“We’ve got a lot of guys playing for the first time, but that’s no excuse.”
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.