The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate football team suffered its first defeat of the season last week, falling to the Centauri Falcons 42-7 at home on Thursday, Sept. 4.
The Pirates trailed at halftime by a score of 35-0, but fought back in the second half, only giving up one more touchdown and putting up a score of their own to bring the final score to 42-7.
The Pirates gave up a short 2-yard touchdown run to Centauri midway through the third quarter and then managed to get on the scoreboard with about three minutes left in the fourth quarter when Pirate quarterback Creede Dozier connected with Alex Pacheco for a 22-yard touchdown completion, which was followed by a successful extra-point attempt.
Dozier completed two of seven pass attempts on the night, putting up a total of 91 yards through the air and the one touchdown.
Hudson Mazur pulled in the other completed pass on the night for a gain of 69 yards.
The Pirates put up a total of 108 rushing yards in the game, bringing their total yards on offense to 199 yards.
Pacheco led the Pirates in rushing yards with a total of 64 yards on 10 carries, followed by Colton Lucero, who racked up 42 yards on 14 carries.
Lucero also had four kickoff returns totaling for 90 yards.
Mazur rushed the ball twice for the Pirates on the night, picking up a total of 5 yards, and Dozier lost a total of 3 yards on three carries.
The Pirates had three drives end with losing a fumble.
On the defensive side, the Pirates tallied a total of 24 tackles, with Mazur leading the team with five tackles, followed by Vinny Fish, who recorded four tackles.
Five other Pirates each logged three tackles, with Lucero recording a 12-yard tackle for loss.
Coach Nathan Morales commented, “It’s early-season football,” explaining the Pirates were not tested in the same way as in their season opener against Kirtland Central, N.M. — a game the Pirates won 51-0.
“But, they’re both learning experiences, and we’ll continue to get better,” Morales said of the Pirates’ first two games this season.
He mentioned the Pirates fought to the end, explaining both the offense and defense performed better in the second half, and the offense was able to start moving the ball more.
Morales also explained the Pirates were reviewing films in real time on the sidelines.
“It was a good learning experience for everyone,” Morales said, noting that includes coaches and players.
Morales spoke more about the team’s second-half performance and how, regardless of the score, the message to the team is to keep playing and fighting until the very end.
“We keep playing no matter what,” he said.
Regardless of the scoreline, “we just keep fighting til the end no matter what,” Morales said. “And, I felt the kids did that.”
Morales also mentioned the Pirates are leaning on their senior leadership this season, noting, “They’re doing a good job for us this year.”
He added, “I think we’ll continue to get better ‘cause we have good seniors that are good leaders.”
With the Pirates’ first four games of the season being nonleague matchups, Morales commented on the importance of being in good shape for the start of league play against Salida on Oct. 3, and carrying that through to the end of the season.
“We want to be playing our best football at the end of the year, but especially when [league] starts,” he said.
With no game scheduled for this week, the Pirates have an extra week to prepare for their next matchup against Monte Vista on Friday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. in Monte Vista, which will be followed by another away game against another nonleague opponent, the Elizabeth Cardinals, at 7 p.m. on Sept. 26 in Elizabeth.
“Of course we want to go and win those games, but we also just want to be playing our best football going into league play,” Morales said, explaining the Pirates are choosing to focus on bettering themselves rather than preparing for a specific opponent, “and that’s what we’re doing this week.”
Morales noted he wants to see the Pirates continuing to swarm to the ball on defense, while also “being more physical on offense.”
Morales also explained that Centauri “beat us in all three facets of the game,” including special teams.
“And I take ownership for that,” he added, noting the Pirates need to do a better job of preparing for the game.
He also spoke about how the senior leaders were able to see and realize what was going on in the game against Centauri “and they don’t want that feeling again.”
He mentioned the seniors are looking to push each other and the coaches to get better, and that coaches will do the same.
“We’re just looking forward to getting on the field again. They’re hungry to prove that’s not Pagosa Pirate football,” Morales added.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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