Vikings take down invaders

HOLTVILLE — Led by two senior running backs, the Holtville High football team overcame a slow first half and dominated Salvatierra Prep from Mexicali in the second, winning 35-13 in the opening game for new Vikings’ head coach Jason Turner.

Leading just 7-0 at the half, Turner urged his Vikings to play with attitude in the second half and they responded with a 21-point third quarter en route to the victory.

“Tonight, I came out here looking for effort and attitude and we talked about that at halftime,” Turner said. “I didn’t care who we were playing tonight, I just wanted to see us moving forward and continue to build as a team.”

The night began well for the Holtville offense, marching 48 yards in six plays on its opening drive, culminating with a 21-yard touchdown run from senior Jacob Leyba. The extra point from Edwin Partida put the Vikings up 7-0, less than six minutes into the game.

That would be all the scoring in the first half as the teams traded punts and fumbles the rest of the half.

Holtville took the second-half kickoff and went on a seven-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 36-yard touchdown romp from Leyba to put the Vikings up 14-0.

Two plays later, Holtville senior Andy Pascual intercepted Salvatierra quarterback Alex Mendivil and returned it to the 14-yardline to set up Leyba’s third touchdown of the game, a 14-yard sprint on the first play of the ensuing drive.

“I gotta thank my linemen for opening the holes nice and big for me,” said Leyba, who finished with a game-high 156 yards rushing on 17 carries and three touchdowns. “Our running backs from last year are all gone, so I kind of like the pressure of carrying the ball.”

Pascual put the Vikings up 28-0 late in the third quarter with a 62-yard touchdown run. He’d follow that up with a 21-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to put the game away at 35-7.

“The first half I didn’t seem to have that energy you need to run the ball,” said Pascual, who finished with nine carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns. “Coach told us at halftime that it’s not about how you start a game, it’s how you finish, and we got it together in the second half.”

Holtville finished with 270 yards rushing.

“I’m proud of the way those guys (Leyba and Pascual) ran the ball,” Turner said. “They are really just learning the position, so wait until you see them later in the season once they really understand the system.”

Holtville hosts Palo Verde of Blythe at 7 p.m. Friday in a non-league matchup and the second Game of the Week of the season.