Yellowjackets defense stifles Steelers, 22-0 in Homecoming Game victory
Colton gets first league win of the season as Nathaniel Martinez plays big on both sides of the ball, and the offense finds multiple targets
The Steelers’ offense has nowhere to go as a swarm of Yellowjackets prepare for the sting.
Colton, CA—This is the Colton football its fans have been wanting to see, and it arrived no sooner than Homecoming Night for the Yellowjackets’ first Skyline League match up of the year versus Fontana High.
Colton dominated from the opening kick-off, the defense pushing the Steelers back all game long, en route to a 22-0 victory in front of their rollicking home crowd at Memorial Stadium.
“I think it was a good plan by our coaches,” lineman Nicholas Huerta said after the game. “And us defense coming out and doing our assignments and playing good ball out there.”
On the defense, Nicholas Gutierrez led with four tackles and a sack, but he wasn’t interested in the personal numbers. “We all played as a team for once and that meant the most to me.”
And while the defense kept the Steelers out of the end zone all night, the Yellowjackets offense found it several times. Quarterback Gabriel Aparicio, not distracted in the slightest by his nomination for Homecoming King, finished with 121 yards and a touchdown.
He got contributions from multiple players. Damien Sanchez continued tearing up the backfield, with 97 total yards and two 2-point conversions. Nathaniel Martinez, also in the running for King, had 24 yards rushing and a touchdown, not to mention 2 sacks, a tackle and an interception on the defensive side of the ball. Receiver Raymond Ramirez started the game strong with an early touchdown, and went home with 29 yards as well.
The surprise of the game was the emergence of utility player Max Millanez, who was a spark plug for Colton in the second quarter. Millanez broke the game open with a 48-yard run, followed two downs later by an 18-yard touchdown run.
The Yellowjackets deferred on the opening kickoff, then recovered on Manuel Alonso’s onside kick. This led to the first score of the game as Aparicio connected with Ramirez for an 11-yard touchdown reception.
After the extended halftime, Colton came back out and struggled in the third quarter on offense, failing to gain traction on its three possessions. In the fourth, they found their footing again as their multifaceted attack opened the middle up for Martinez’s 20-yard touchdown run.
The victory makes Colton 1-0 in league play, and 2-4 on the season. Next week, they travel to Rialto High to take on the 1-0 (3-3 overall) Knights. Game time is 7 p.m.
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