Four bad minutes cost Casa big time

September 28, 2005

By JOHN JACKSON
ARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR

Casa Grande High School's varsity football Gauchos, despite numerous mistakes, played well enough for 44 minutes to stop Montgomery's 16-game, two-season winning streak. Unfortunately for the Gauchos, a game is 48 minutes long.

Montgomery scored two touchdowns within a one-minute span in the first half and drove for a third in the final three minutes of the game to defeat the disillusioned Gauchos, 21-18, Saturday afternoon.

Of course, there were all sorts of contributing factors. There was a fumble by the Gauchos at the one-yard line as they drove for what might have been a game-clinching touchdown. There was a muffed punt that set up the first Viking score. There was an inability of the Casa defensive backs to stay with the quick Montgomery receivers in critical situations. There was a lack of consistency and coordination in the normally solid Casa Grande offensive line. There was a missed kick try on a PAT attempt and a missed two-point try that were both huge on an afternoon when each side scored three touchdowns.

Still, Casa Grande played well enough to win in what lived up to its billing as one of the season's biggest games.

"Hats off to Montgomery," said Casa Grande coach Rick O'Brien. "They did a very good job, but we made too many mistakes."

Trombetta slipped off the left side of the Casa Grande line, cut outside, hit his overdrive gear and was gone.

In what was an after thought at the time, but became huge later, Scott Poole kicked into the shins of the rushing Vikings on the PAT try, leaving the score 6-0.

Things got considerably more difficult for Trombetta and the Gauchos after their initial success. The Viking defensive front controlled the line of scrimmage for much of the remainder of the game and the Vikes, like every other Casa foe, gave much attention to Trombetta.

For the remainder of the game, Trombetta had 120 yards, finishing with 166 on 28 carries.

Meanwhile, the Casa Grande defense more than did its job against a very quick Montgomery offense.

With Steve Cade and George Leschinsky tackling everything red, the Gaucho defense looked to be in control.

Things looked even brighter at the outset of the second quarter when quarterback Chris Forni, slammed a pass into the grasping hands of David Gibson for a 14-yard touchdown.

After missing the first PAT, Casa tried to pass for two points on the conversion, but the throw was broken up and the Gaucho lead held at 12-0.

Then came one of the worst minutes in Casa Grande football history.

It began with a booming punt by Montgomery's Nick Marino. Trombetta, battling sun and a brisk wind, drifted back like an outfielder. The ball ticked off an out-reached hand. Patrick Burden plopped on what was now a free ball and Montgomery was in business at the Casa Grande eight-yard line.

It didn't stay that way long.

It took Casa Grande just three plays to loose a yard.

A combination of a short punt by Frankie Barone, a nice return by Joey Koblinski and a personal foul penalty against the Gauchos gave the Vikings a first down at the 14 yard line -- a net punt result of minus-five yards.

An eight-yard run by Seira set up a six-yard touchdown connection between Viking quarterback John Colgan and wide receiver Jeff Andrews. Again Wade kicked good and Montgomery, much to the disbelief of the Gaucho fans, led, 14-12.

Total elapsed time between Trombetta's muff and Montgomery's second touchdown was 59 seconds.

Defenses dominated the third quarter, although the Gauchos gave Montgomery's defenders a helping hand by fumbling away a touchdown try from the one-yard line.

Big passes from Chris Forni to David Gibson and Barone moved the ball to within jumping distance, but when Cade tried to dive in, the ball was punched loose, dribbled away and was recovered by the Vikings' Sterling Edwards.

That disappointed was short lived, as the Gauchos fought back one more time. With the ball at the Casa Grande 38-yard line, the offensive line came to life.

A front-line surge moved the Gauchos 62 yards. Each stripe was gained by Trombetta, who carried eight consecutive times, the last from the one-yard line for the touchdown.

Quarterback Chris Forni again tried to pass for conversion points, but his throw was knocked down. Still, Casa Grande was back in front, 18-14.

The scoreboard stayed on hold as it clicked down to 3:27 when the Vikings began what looked like their last chance to keep their winning streak alive.

Montgomery made it look all too easy against a suddenly, and inexplicably, soft Casa Grande pass defense.

Key plays on a 51-yard to a probable No. 1 Redwood Empire ranking were 12 and 10-yard pass connections between Colgan and Burden. Nick Marino sliced in from one yard out for the victory score. Wade kicked straight to up the Montgomery lead to 21-18.

With 58 seconds left, the Gauchos were still hopeful, needing a field goal for a tie.

The kickoff went into the end zone and Casa took its last shot from its own 20-yard line.

The Gauchos first and only play of its final possession started promisingly enough with Casa fooling the pass-expecting Vikings with a draw play to Trombetta, but as the running back broke past the scrimmage line, the ball popped loose and rolled away, taking with it the last of the Casa hopes.

Casa Grande has now lost just five games over a three-season span, with three of the defeats coming at the hands of the Vikings.