Story by Michael Rincon Photography
The #6 ranked Tucson Desert View Jaguars defeated the #11 Goodyear Millennium Tigers 26 to 13 in a game played at Desert View on Friday.
The game got off to a slow start, with neither team finding the end zone in the first quarter. Desert View punctuated a 90-yard drive with a 37-yard Serge Gwobeiah down the middle of the field to give the Jaguars a 6-0 lead with 10 minutes remaining in half. The PAT was no good.
Millennium countered with a 63-yard, four-minute drive that ended with a 7-yard rush by Zeus Pindernation. The PAT was missed to keep the score tied at 6.
Gwobeiah scored his second touchdown of the night with less than a minute remaining in half on a four-yard run. The Jaguars attempted a two-point try, but Gwobeiah was tackled for a loss on the attempt, bringing the score to 12-6 in favor of the home team at the half.
Desert View surprised Millennium with an on-side kick to start the second half, and the Jaguars recovered the ball on the Tigers’ 38-yard line. The resulting drive was short-lived, and Desert View turned over the ball on downs. The teams traded possessions, but with four minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Tigers found the end zone on a five-yard rushing TD by Giovanni Peru. The PAT was good, and Millennium took the lead 13-12.
On the next drive, Desert View worked its way to the red zone to close out the third quarter and scored during the first minute of the fourth quarter on a four-yard rush by Gwobeiah for his third touchdown on the night. The two-point conversion failed, making the score 18-13 in favor of Desert View.
Millennium attempted a little razzle-dazzle during the next drive with a handoff, toss, and a throwback to the quarterback in the flat; however, the play was read perfectly read by Desert View’s Jan-Li Govan, who returned the ball to the 10-yard line. Penalties after the change in possession pushed the Jaguars back to the Millennium 35, but with a few minutes, the Jaguars scored again on a 10-yard Oscar Barraza to Rudy Rodriquez pass. Desert View was successful on the subsequent two-point try, bringing the score to 26-13. Gobweiah had several rushes during the drive and surpassed 1,000 yards on the season.
Millenium’s showed promise on their following possession, but a fumble following a long pass completion turned the ball over to the Jaguars, who ran
out the clock to win 26-13.
Desert View will now travel up to Goodyear on Nov. 26 to face the #3 Desert Edge Scorpions.