Tough D, Young’s legs push Brawley past Imperial
IMPERIAL — Using an opportunistic defense and a three-touchdown performance by running back Isaiah Young, the Brawley Union High School Wildcat football team defeated the Imperial High Tigers 26-6 in an 2020 Imperial Valley League game here Friday night.
The game began on an ominous note for Imperial when the Tigers won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half and kickoff to Brawley.
Brawley’s Daniel Camillo fumbled the kick before finally gaining control, then veered to his right as the initial coverage overran him, and sprinted up the sideline 85 yards for a touchdown.
Brawley’s Young, a junior, scored on the two-point conversion attempt, making the score 8-0.
Imperial appeared to shake off the impact of the kickoff return, driving to the Brawley 1 yard line behind the running of senior Brennan Adams.
“There were great holes from my O-line. I get as low as possible, and when I see its open, I accelerate,” Adams said.
That’s when the Brawley defense stepped up with Imperial in a double-tight-end power formation, Wildcat inside linebacker Chandler Self hit Adams in the backfield causing a fumble that he recovered to stop the drive.
“The ball was on the 1 and we knew we had to stop him, so I ran up and hit him in the backfield,” Self said. “The ball came loose, and he was trying to get it, and I just took it away from him.”
Imperial Coach David Shaw took over the reins of the Tigers just as COVID-19 shut down the country and is trying to use the pandemic-postponed 2020 mini-season to begin building his program under unusual circumstances.
“To start the game that way giving up a touchdown is tough but the players came back and represented themselves well,” Shaw said.
Brawley’s next drive featured wingback Jayden Figueroa who ran for 22 yards on a sweep and made a 25-yard pass reception from sophomore quarterback Ethan Gutierrez, but Imperial ultimately forced the Wildcats to turn the ball over on downs.
Brawley then forced an Imperial punt, and two plays later, Young exploded through the Tiger defense shedding two tacklers and racing 66 yards for a touchdown with 2:41 to go in the second quarter.
“I’m supposed to follow the blocks and then bounce it outside, and my linemen did a really good job blocking, and I was able to get outside,” Young said.
The two-point conversion failed and with Brawley leading 14-0, Imperial climbed back into the game.
Utilizing a combination of Adams’ running and precision-passing from senior quarterback Joaquin Alvarado, the Tigers drove to the Wildcat 23 yard line.
On first and 10, Alvarado threw a perfectly arching pass to junior wide receiver Jesse Nichols who made an overthe-shoulder catch for the touchdown.
“The kids are responding, and we are keeping it simple, and they never gave up or let down,” Shaw said. “They have to trust the process, and the wins will come.”
One player who is trusting the process is Alvarado who plays guard in basketball and pitches in baseball, but was a lineman as a freshman when a PE teacher observed him throwing a football and alerted the football coaches.
“I’m always throwing the deep ball in practice and warm-ups, and if they’re going to call that play, I’m ready to throw it,” Alvarado said. “I’m happy to be playing. I always had a feeling we’d play something this year so I continued to work out and just be ready.”
Coming out of halftime trailing 14-6, Imperial went three-and-out for the first time in the game to open the second half.
Brawley then capped a 55-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run by Young to extend their lead to 20-6.
“I don’t mind the dive. I’ve gained like 40 pounds so I feel I can bounce with the big boys,” Young said.
Brawley appeared poised to take over the contest in the third quarter when they recovered the ensuing kickoff at the Imperial 33 yard line and Gutierrez scrambled for 30 yards on the next play.
Faced with a first and goal at their own 3 yard line, Imperial’s defense dug in and stopped the Wildcats on four consecutive rushes to regain possession on downs.
“We were having a little trouble lining up,” said Wildcat offensive lineman Abel Salazar. “We have a lot of new players, and we are trying to learn how each other plays, and every practice we’re gaining momentum.”
Alvarado then completed passes to Raymond Perez, Christopher Tieman and Nichols driving to the Brawley 17 before the Wildcat defense stiffened and stopped the drive on downs.
Brawley then used one of their patented ball-pounding, clock-eating drives that set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Young with 6:43 to go in the fourth quarter, effectively ending the game.
“Isaiah’s growing and getting better every week and got some nice extra yards after contact,” said Brawley Coach Jon Self said.” When a running play is executed well, it’s really all 11 players doing their jobs.”
Self’s Wildcats (2-0) will continue the abbreviated 2020 season this Thursday, traveling to Calexico to play the Bulldogs while Imperial (1-1) hosts Central.
“I think the kids are gaining in confidence so we are able to expand what we are doing,” Self said. “We just have to take it week by week, we’re just trying to grow and get better.”