Gauchos crush T-bird homecoming
Jeff Moses
The MCC Thunderbirds came into Saturday’s game against the Glendale Gauchos very confident for a team with only one check in the wins column.When asked if he was intimidated by the Gauchos national ranking of 14 Mesa starting quarterback Gavin Mack confidently replied “not at all.”
He would be singing a different tune at the end of the 2nd quarter when he was removed from the game complaining of stomach pain, but not before hurling two interceptions and being sacked once.
The offensive results would be just as woeful for backup quarterback Bryan Libby who did not throw any interceptions but he did find himself sacked five times.
It surely was not helping the Thunderbird’s having starting right guard Jared Solomon out of the game with a broken tibia.
Besides missing the huge presence of a 6’4 300 pound guard, Solomon also felt the Thunderbirds were playing without motivation stating that “we’re missing heart, since the first drive no heart.”
The Thunderbirds found no rhythm in the first half, scored no points and surrendered 32 points by half time, including a punt returned for a touchdown, an interception for a touchdown, and a safety.
When asked for his opinion on his team’s first half performance, a frustrated defensive line coach Michael Bankston declined comment.
The special homecoming halftime festivities included MCC’s Pink Love Dance, a special performance done around the country in tribute to cancer victims, survivors and their families put on by the Nursing, Exercise Science and dance students at MCC.
Also at halftime, the new Thunderbirds mascot was given his name. Hopefully “Thor” will be trolling the Mesa sidelines for years to come.
The second half was no kinder to the Thunderbirds, the offense sputtered and stalled, and the defense continued giving up big plays both through the air and on the ground.
Including a 25 yard reception by Gauchos wide out Jimmy Goad which made Thunderbirds right guard Sam Mafua scream in frustration, “I don’t even want to play after that!”.
Regardless of Mafua’s sentiments, the game went on. In the fourth quarter the T-birds defense brought a small silver lining to the game when Denzzel Martin brought a recovered fumble 34 yards to pay dirt to put the Thunderbirds on the board with their only score of the night.
Mesa limped off the field with a final score of 42-6, going into the final leg of their season preparing for their second bout with Scottsdale the day before Halloween and their finale at home against Eastern Arizona on Nov. 13.
