By Ricky Crisp/Special for GilaValleyCentral
SAFFORD — Led by an effective rushing attack and sturdy defensive play were the ingredients for a one-sided victory on Friday night for Safford over Empire.
Safford Bulldogs took care of business with a dominant win over the Empire Ravens 28-6.
Before the game, Safford High School head coach Bob Park explained what they focused on in practice during the week and playing a bigger school who is 4A.
“In practice, we focused on blocking assignments and execution of plays on offense. And for the defense we worked on formation assignments,” said Park. “I try to have our players focus on the opponent and not think the size of the school. If they will believe in the game plan and focus on execution we will be in the game.”
The Bulldogs hosting a 4A undefeated Raven’s football program was a piece of cake for the Bulldogs.
Safford started out the game with some great upfront blocking creating some big holes for the running game to take the ball down the field. Then Christian Smith put the first points up on the board with a 4-yard touchdown run giving Safford an early 7-0 lead.
Smith had two rushing touchdowns and a sack for the evening.
A minute after the Bulldogs first scored, Nephi Fox, intercepted a Ravens ball that led to a 40-yard pick-six, giving the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
Fox scored the first 8 points for the Bulldogs and was 4 for 4 on extra-point kicks
During the second quarter, yellow flags were flying all over the field. With multiple unsportsmanlike conducts, targeting calls, and an assistant coach being ejected out of the game.
None of that seemed to phase Safford as they went up 21-0 when Jojo Ruelas hooked up with Ki Turner for a 22-yard touchdown pass.
The Bulldogs defense was physical at the line putting the pressure on the Ravens quarterback each time he went back to pass, which forced some forced passes on the run. Bulldog’s defense was all over the ball carrier on each position.
With time winding down in the first half, Smith was able to rush it in for a 1-yard touchdown run with one second left on the clock, giving the Bulldogs a 28-0 lead heading into half-time.
The second half was a hard-hitting, helmet-popping-off kind of game. With 1:03 left in the 3rd quarter, Empire was able to get on the scoreboard with a short touchdown pass, which kept them from being shut out.
Safford made sure nothing else came out of that touchdown and put the nail in the coffin as cruised past Empire to go 3-0 early in the season.
The undefeated Safford Bulldogs will look to stay perfect when they host another 4A school in Douglas Bulldogs (1-0) on Friday, Sept 17 at 7 PM.
