Nyssa’s Jo Jo Sanchez bulls his way through the line of scrimmage during a playoff game with Amity Saturday. Sanchez finished the day with 186 yards on 27 carries for the Bulldogs. (For the Enterprise/Marcus Larson).
AMITY – For a quarter, Nyssa held Amity’s high-powered offense in check.
Then the roof fell in.
Amity broke open a close game at the end of the first quarter and overwhelmed the Bulldogs Saturday to post a 58-13 quarterfinal victory in a Class 3A state playoff game.
“We started out good. But they have size and the athletes,” said Nyssa Coach Lee Long.
Nyssa running back Jo Jo Sanchez ended the game with 27 carries for 186 yards but Amity’s running game piled up 414 yards of offense.
At the end of the first quarter, the Bulldogs faced a 6-0 deficit but Amity took control in the second stanza, building a 28-7 advantage by halftime.
The Bulldogs, usually a proficient passing team, had 84 yards in the air against the Warriors.
Amity, which runs a ground-oriented wing T offense, threw the ball well during the game, said Long.
Amity’s size played a decisive role, Long said.
“They had a 6-foot-4 and a 6-foot-3 receiver and a 6-foot-5 tight end. At our level that is something you don’t typically see,” said Long.
Long said the Bulldogs (7-3) couldn’t stop the Amity offense once it began to roll.
“We kind of held it off for a while but at some point you meet your match. There are times where you find yourself outmanned,” said Long.
Long said the Warriors were “very good.”
“They were just too deep and can run the ball just as well as they can throw it,” said Long.
Long said while he was disappointed with the loss he isn’t disillusioned about the Bulldogs’ season.
“This game doesn’t define our season. The kids had a good season. There are a lot of teams that don’t even crack the playoffs. The reality is, if you don’t win the state championship the last game is always a heartbreaker,” said Long.
Nine seniors finish the season for Nyssa, including Sanchez.
“They are a fun group,” said Long.
Besides Sanchez, other seniors on the squad include Agustin Trujillo, Jakob Hernandez, Ethan Draper, Dearden Woodruff, Tanner Castro, Jorge Ortiz, Tyler Johnson, Cameron Elguezabel and Kessen Kimball are the Bulldog seniors.
Reporter Pat Caldwell: [email protected] or 541-473-3377.
Nyssa’s Landon McDowall sprints away from an Amity player during their game Saturday. (For the Enterprise/Marcus Larson).
Nyssa’s Dearden Woodruff looks for an opening on a run play during a playoff game against Amity Saturday in Amity. (For the Enterprise/Marcus Larson).