Mustangs claim final SWYL title
| Saturday, Nov 14 2009 12:13 AM
Last Updated Saturday, Nov 14 2009 12:13 AM
There was nothing wrong with sharing the Southwest Yosemite League title with North High last year.
But this year's Stockdale team wanted the last league trophy all to its own.
As the case as been for a majority of the season, the Mustangs used "a total-team effort" in their 42-13 victory over West to finish the league schedule undefeated.
"We're the defending SWYL champions forever unless they name one of the new leagues the SWYL," Stockdale coach Mike Snow said of the league's final season. "We got a share of the title last year. It was big for us to finish it and not share (the title), go undefeated in league and finish 9-1."
The Mustangs' vaunted wing-T offense didn't have a player gain more than 45 yards on the ground, but Stockdale (9-1, 6-0) picked up a defensive touchdown and three scores through the air.
On the first play of the game, Stockdale outside linebacker Hank Hobson stepped in front of West quarterback Franklin Simmons' pass and ran back the interception 22 yards for a touchdown.
"You can't start much better than that," Snow said. "Seven seconds in and you've got a 7-0 lead."
It was the first of four interceptions as the Stockdale defensive line pressured Simmons throughout the game.
Stockdale quarterback Efren Venegas completed 4 of 8 passes for 116 yards, and threw touchdowns strikes to Andrew Garcia and Nic Shannon. Garcia also hauled in a 42-yard touchdown pass from fullback Isaiah Turner on fourth-and-9 early in the third quarter.
West (4-6, 3-3) surprised Stockdale, running a wildcat formation with Taiyon Jackson in the shotgun and Simmons out wide. Jackson rushed for 41 yards and also hauled in four passes for 76 yards before Stockdale slowed the Vikings offense.
"We've got a senior group and they recognized it before some of us did," said Snow of the adjustments. "I thought we adjusted to that well."
