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The Tucson Youth Football & Spirit Federation (TYFSF) Game of the Week featured the 13U teams from the Marana Broncos and the Oro Valley Dolphins with the Broncos posting a 49-0 victory at Canyon del Oro High School.
The Dolphins set the pace early thanks to 23-yard run by Cole Madril but their opening drive stalled deep in Bronco territory and the Broncos took over on downs after they forced a sack on a long fourth-down play.
It was Bijan Robinson’s turn to shine and he ripped off runs of 20 and 30 yards to set the Broncos up on a first-and-goal at the 10-yard line but, like the Dolphins, the Broncos gave the ball back on downs after failing to score.
But Robinson had shifted the field and the defense stopped the Dolphins and the Broncos took over at the 9-yard line after a short punt. Jared Vazquez found Zachary Martinez on the first play and the Broncos took an 8-0 lead after Martinez hit the extra point as the first quarter came to an end.
The Dolphins were forced to punt again and the Broncos took over with great field position again. Gary Love III took a handoff for 13 yards and Robinson followed that up with a 17-yard dash. Love got the ball again he scored from 16 yards out to give the Broncos a 16-0 lead (kick good).
After another Dolphin punt, Edward Gastelum got on the board with a 3-yard dash to give the Broncos a 22-0 lead (kick missed) and that’s how the first half ended.
Robinson would finish the game with 66 yards rushing and Love added 49 including a 20-yard score in the fourth quarter but the Bronco defense took over most of the scoring in the second half.
With Madril limited after the first series, the Dolphins turned to the air with some success with Eli Pallanes recording 16 yards receiving and Octavio Audry-Cobos adding 21 but the Broncos started to step in the passing lanes and returned two interceptions for scores.
Brice Callaway had a 60-yard interception return and Robinson returned another one for 40 yards. Gastelum also returned a kickoff 50 yards for another score.
Robinson is the grandson of Cleo Robinson, the legendary Marana and NAU football standout and longtime referee and Love is the son of former University of Arizona wide receiver/defensive back Gary Love.
Love is an eighth grader at Doolen Middle School and he summed up his performance in simple terms, “I ran so I wouldn’t get tackled.”
“We work hard as a team and we just play harder,” he added.
Love doesn’t get caught up in the hype that follows his team every week. He treats every opponent the same, knowing they are trying to stop the undefeated (3-0) Broncos.
Audry-Cobos turned in a great performance for the Dolphins with 42 yards rushing added to his 21 yards receiving. The Coronado K-8 eighth grader will be attending Ironwood Ridge next year but wishes he could attend Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas.
“Our team is about running and we didn’t get all the blocks we needed today,” Audry-Cobos explained. “It was a big difference and they came out on top.”
Vazquez finished with 17 yards passing and Luke Straka had 37 for the Dolphins. Aaron Logsdon added 14 yards rushing for the Broncos and Lathan Ransom collected 26 more.
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here, on AZPreps365.com and on the pages of the Vail Voice and the Tanque Verde Voice. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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