T-Birds QB goes down with injury in semi-final victory

By: Warren Younger

MCC’s football team came into its semi-final consolation game with a chip on its shoulder coming off a loss in its regular season finale.

A potential bigger loss awaited them in this game.

Although the T-Birds did come out with a win in this game, for most of the game it didn’t look like it was going to end that way.

MCC started off the game with a long drive that ended with a 22 yard pass from quarterback Austin Apodaca to wide receiver Dusty Cook for the game’s first score putting MCC up 7-0.

New Mexico answered right back with a touchdown of their own to make the score even at seven apiece.

Not much action happened for the remainder of the game’s first quarter as the score remained tied going into the second.

Same suit followed in the second quarter but MCC managed to fight its way for another score behind the leg of kicker Austin Carver to give MCC a 10-7 lead.

The game was a back and forth effort by both squads until MCC’s final possession of the half.

Austin Apodaca went down with an injury on the last drive of the half as the T-Birds went into halftime clinging on to a 10-7 lead.

At halftime he was cleared to return for the third quarter, but on the first two drives of the second half, Apodaca took two nasty hits which sidelined him for the rest of the game.

In came back up Quarterback Brennan Dobson, who hasn’t taken a snap all season, and was then given the job to win his team the game.

Things started off slow for him.

On his second series in the game, Dobson had his helmet ripped off which by rules made him take a seat on the bench for a down.

With nowhere to turn, coach Felker elected to have wide reciever Joshua Aganon take the snap in what would be the game’s turning point.

Aganon took the snap and ran it up the middle for a 60 yard touchdown putting MCC ahead 17-7.

MCC gained momentum and snowballed it as Dobson threw touchdown and running back Kaswell Robinson rushed for a score, giving MCC a 31-7 win.

Austin Apodaca left the game with a 12-28 passing performance with a touchdown and an interception.

When asked if his injury was going to affect his status for the final he said no.

“I just had a small sprain but I will be good to go for this game against Pima,” said Apodaca.

Dobson finished the day with a 6-10 passing performance for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Apodaca was pleased to see his back up do so well.

“I thought Brennan had a really solid game. It was good to see him be able to operate the offense and move the ball downfield. He looked very comfortable which is a good thing,” Apodaca said.

The turning point of the game was obviously the 60 yard run on what was considered a throwaway play, and Apodaca was thrilled to see it.

“Josh’s touchdown was the turning point in the game in my mind. He got an opportunity to get the ball on a play we really hadn’t practiced with him and he made the most of it. That was a huge boost for our team,” Apodaca said.

Looking to the final against Pima, Apodaca said his team is ready to win.

“For the final game, we are just focused on finishing with a win. Pima has won two in a row and is playing their best football right now so we will need to bring our best as well.” Apodaca said.

MCC looks to capture the consolation-bracket title when they square off against Pima on Nov. 8.

 

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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