Torrez a triple threat – one rushing, one on a return and two passing touchdowns

Seniors Frank Torrez (1) and Eddie Gonzalez (18) combine to put the crunch on Quinton Flanscha of Fowler Friday night. The two showed chemistry combining for a touchdown in the Farmer win. (Courier photo by Stephen Jiron)

MONTE VISTA — Sargent heated up a cool night in northern Monte Vista with the valuable first win of the season.
The ninth ranked Farmers played host to sixth ranked Fowler in a top ten match up. Sargent came away with the win earning a 46-28 victory over the visiting Grizzlies.

Both teams had their seasons end at the Quarterfinal round of the post season last year. Sargent succumbed to West Grand while Fowler fell to the eventual champions Sedgwick County.

Friday the Farmers' first drive was mired by mistakes and penalties and it was the Grizzlies that struck first on the night with a 2 yard touchdown electing to go for two and taking an 8-0 lead.

That clearly didn’t sit will with Sargent, senior Frank Torrez least of all. The ensuing kick-off Torrez found a crease and went 85 yards and brought the Farmers within 2. After trading fumbles Fowler added another touchdown and two-point conversion, trading on Sargent’s aggression with play action.
Two possessions later the Farmers continued to hack away at the lead with a Torrez rushing touchdown set-up by a 13-yard connection from Torrez to Blaine Behil. Torrez would lead the Farmers in scoring with four touchdowns.

 Another solid defensive effort accented by a sack from Chase Mortensen would force a punt from Fowler. On the punt Cole Segar of Sargent would find some free real estate and rip off a 50-yard return putting the Farmers in prime position.

Torrez and fellow senior Eddie “Money” Gonzalez did the rest combining for 45 yards though the air on the drive, capped by a 13 yarder to take the Farmer's first lead of the game. A 18-16 score with seven seconds to play would last to the half.

The first possession of the second half for Sargent resulted in a sack fumble. The Grizzlies turned a shortened field into points retaking the lead 18-22.The answer from Sargent came from a connection between Torrez and Blaine Behil that went 28 yards to retake the lead.

Fowler would score once more engineering a 67 yard drive to make it 28-24. It was all Sargent from there on. Senior Jacob Deacon would rumble for two touchdowns, one from three yards out the other from 40 yards out while the defense stifled the Grizzlies with a Behil fumble recovery and a turnover on downs.  

Sargent will take their opening win on the road visiting Springfield next week Sept. 7 and Mancos the week after Sept. 14.