Corona Sports Report
Rejuvenated Aztecs face crucial game

By Brian Gomez

After narrowly defeating a 2002 postseason contender last week, Corona del Sol High School’s varsity football team hopes to be at full strength Oct. 3 during its bid for an encore performance.

Aided by the probable return of three offensive starters, the Aztecs should have a much easier time next week at Gilbert Mesquite than they did last week in a 17-14 victory against Phoenix Maryvale.

Although senior center/defensive end Matt Purvis (concussion) is likely out for the season, running backs Chase Flores (ribs) and Daniel McClendon (ribs) and senior lineman Allen Smith (shoulder) expect to be back in the starting lineup for a game that gives Corona a golden opportunity to pad its record before the Central Region opener.

“You’ve got to try to win every game,” Corona head coach Gary Venturo said. “If you don’t win the conference and if you lose some non-conference games, you don’t go to the playoffs.”

Mesquite has struggled a year after advancing to the state quarterfinals. Head coach Rich Iversen’s team recorded its first win last week against Mesa High after getting blanked in consecutive games by No. 9-ranked Mesa Red Mountain and Scottsdale Desert Mountain.

If Smith is able to play next week for the first time since he injured his shoulder in a lopsided loss at No. 3 Chandler Hamilton, the Aztecs could be capable of shutting down the run, similar to the way in which Red Mountain stopped Mesquite’s ground attack in the season opener. The Mountain Lions held the Wildcats to only 26 yards rushing in a 36-0 win.

Mesquite’s biggest defensive threat is linebacker Tony Baker, who recovered a fumble last week against Mesa to set up the game-tying touchdown. On offense, Mesquite quarterback Erik Archuletta is versatile enough to throw from the pocket and make things happen on the run.

With Flores and McClendon healthy, junior Blaise Johnson can return to quarterback and senior Eric Smith won’t have to overwork himself in the backfield. Venturo said Johnson will still be used as a tailback in certain situations, giving senior quarterback Matthew Larson a chance to take snaps from junior center Sam Feroile.

Junior Tony Vidare could again handle the place-kicking duties instead of sophomore Kevin Hager after his 22-yard field goal proved to be the difference-maker against Maryvale.

“We ran into a buzz saw when we played Hamilton, and they banged us up a little bit,” Venturo said. “We’ve just got to keep improving.”

Reach the reporter at brian.gomez@wranglernews.com.

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