The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate football team lost 21-20 in their match up against the Centauri Falcons last Friday, Sept. 6, in La Jara.
“We got ourselves in a hole early in the game and we had to fight our way out of it … we gave [Centauri] momentum early and so we had to claw back out of a hole, so that’s what made it tough,” coach Nathan Morales said.
The Falcons went up by 14 early in the first quarter, scoring a rushing touchdown and from a pick-six thrown by Pirate quarterback Creede Dozier.
The Pirates were able to get on the board toward the end of the first quarter with a 49-yard rushing touchdown by Colton Lucero.
Morales mentioned that any time you give a team a 14-point lead early on in the game, it’s always going to be a challenge.
When asked about motivating the team, Morales said, “I don’t have to do anything. I think it’s just in those kids. That’s our culture — we just keep fighting.”
He explained the Pirates don’t focus on the score and “we go until the game’s over.”
The score remained 14-6 in favor of the Falcons until early in the fourth quarter when Lucero scored another rushing touchdown, this time for 25 yards.
The Pirates were then able to convert a two-point extra-point attempt with a run by Seth Ziegler, tying the game at 14-14.
The Falcons scored on their next possession and converted an extra-point attempt to retake the lead at 21-14.
The Pirates were then able to score on their following drive with a 21-yard pass from Dozier to Jaxten Schiel.
The Pirates chose to go for another two-point extra-point attempt that would’ve given them the lead, but failed, leaving the score at 21-20 in favor of the Falcons.
Morales mentioned the Pirates defense played well, highlighting Tommy Nigro’s performance on the night.
Nigro and Zeigler each recorded a team high of seven tackles, with Nigro having three tackles for loss and Zeigler logging one tackle for a loss.
“I thought our defense played well as a whole,” Morales said.
The Pirates logged a total of 40 tackles on the night and forced two turnovers.
Nigro recorded one fumble recovery and Schiel came away with one interception.
Morales also commented on the Pirates’ offense, mentioning they missed a few opportunities early on in the game.
“I’ve got to do a better job of making sure we’re all prepared for everything,” he said, noting the Pirates will be working to capitalize on opportunities like that going forward.
Dozier ended the night with a total of 53 passing yards, completing five out of nine attempts with one touchdown and one interception.
Dozier also logged a total of 48 rushing yards on 18 carries.
Ziegler had one rushing attempt for 1 yard.
Lucero carried the ball 24 times for a total of 226 yards and two touchdowns.
Schiel pulled in two receptions for a total of 30 yards and one touchdown. Ziegler also had two receptions for 23 yards and Lucero had one reception for 10 yards.
“Last week’s loss I put on myself. The kids played well enough to win,” Morales added, explaining the Pirates gave the Falcons some help. “That’s my fault.”
The Pirates are on their bye week this week, with their next game scheduled for Friday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. against Monte Vista at Golden Peaks Stadium.
It will be the Pirates’ first home game of the year, and also the school’s homecoming game.
Morales mentioned that the team is looking to “shore up early-season things,” in preparation for their next match up.
“I think they’re pretty focused on the task at hand,” he said. “They got a bad taste in their mouth from last week, and I think they’re hungry and ready to go.”
clayton@pagosasun.com
