MOSCA – The Sangre de Cristo football team returned to Southwest League action on Friday when it hosted Branson/Kim at the Thunderbirds’ field.
The return to league play wasn’t a good one as the Thunderbirds as they lost to the Bearcats 54-0.
Branson/Kim had the first possession of the game, and it wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. The Bearcats went 59 yards on nine plays with Brock Doherty capping off the drive with a 2-yard run. The point-after attempt was no good and Branson/Kim led 6-0.
Sangre de Cristo turned the ball over on its first possession as Kolby Shellabarger was picked off by Cole Hofmeister.
The Bearcats then went 67 yards of seven plays for their next touchdown. This time Kolter Cranson finished off the drive with a 17-yard touchdown run. The boot again was no good and Branson/Kim had a 12-0 lead.
After the ensuring kickoff, there was a lightning delay that lasted one hour and 48 minutes.
Sangre turned the ball over the next time it had the ball and Branson/Kim turned the miscue into points as Brock Doherty returned the fumble 25 yards for a touchdown. Will Doherty threw to Brock Doherty on the conversion (worth one point in six man football), and the Bearcats led 19-0.
The Thunderbirds fumbled the ball away again on their next possession, and it took two play for the Bearcats to score again. Brock Doherty ran to the end zone from 17 yards out, and Will Doherty kicked the conversion (worth two points in six man) and Branson/Kim led 27-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bearcats scored once in the second quarter as Owen Doherty tossed a 4-yard scoring strike to Mason Riddle. Will Doherty again kicked in the two points and Branson/Kim led 35-0 at halftime.
Sangre had the ball first in the second half but turned the ball over on downs. Cranson ran 35 yards for a touchdown on the next play. The conversion failed and the Branson/Kim lead stood at 43-0.
Cranson scored again midway through the third quarter, this time on a 66-yard run. Will Doherty threw to Cranson of the point-after for a 48-0 lead.
The rest of the game was played under a running clock, but the Bearcats managed to score one more touchdown. Cranson again did the honors, this time at 30-yard run. The kick was blocked.
Sangre de Cristo managed only 44 yards of total offense – 14 rushing and 30 passing.
Shellabarger completed two out of 12 passes for 23 yards and Christian Wolfe completed one of three for seven yards. Wolfe had one reception for 13 yards, Eric Najera had one for 10 yards and Carlos Cerrato had one for seven yards.
Cerrato also led the running game with 14 yards on three carries.
Shellabarger excelled on special teams as he punted three times for a 42.3-yard average.
Branson/Kim recorded 330 yards of total offense with 277 coming on the ground. Cranson led the running game with 189yards on 11 carries, followed by Brock Doherty with 70 yards on 12 carries.
Owen Doherty completed two out of six passes for 31 yards, and Cooper Winter completed both of his passes for 22 yards. Liam Doherty was the leading receiver with three catches for 49 yards.
Sangre de Cristo (2-2, 0-2) play Idalia on Saturday. The game will be played in Cheraw and will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Branson/Kim 54, Sangre de Cristo 0
Branson/Kim 27 8 19 0 – 54
Sangre de Cristo 0 0 0 0 – 0
First quarter
B/K – B. Doherty 2 run (kick failed), 7:09
B/K – Cranson 17 run (kick failed), 3:05
B/K – B. Doherty 25 fumble return (B. Doherty pass from W. Doherty), 2:02
B/K – B. Doherty 17 run (W. Doherty kick), 0:29
Second quarter
B/K – Riddle 4 pass from O. Doherty (W. Doherty), 0:22
Third quarter
B/K – Cranson 35 run (pass failed), 9:11
B/K – Cranson 66 run (Cranson pass from W. Doherty), 7:40
B/K – Cranson 30 run (kick blocked)
