Cimarron rolls as Sunset teams advance in grid tourney

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998 | 10:29 a.m.

Apparently, four days was more than enough time for Cimarron-Memorial's defensive backs to prepare for first-round playoff foe Green Valley.

Despite learning Wednesday that their opponent would be the Gators rather than Las Vegas, the Spartans looked like they had studied Green Valley's passing attack for weeks.

Four times Monday night, the hosts stepped in front of Gator receivers to come up with interceptions. And twice, those defenders took the ball downfield for touchdowns, spearheading a 28-17 southern zone victory.

"We changed some things to let the defensive backs do that," said Cimarron coach Greg Spencer, whose club played Green Valley after Las Vegas forfeited its playoff berth for using an ineligible player. "They studied a lot of film and did a good job."

The first interception by Cimarron (7-3) came just one play after Green Valley had come up with a turnover of its own on a fumble recovery by Kellen Phillips.

Trailing 7-3, the Gators had the ball at Cimarron's 31-yard line and were threatening to take their first lead of the game.

Cornerback Ross Dalton changed that in a hurry, stepping into the passing lane to pick off Chris Gardiner's pass near the Spartan sideline. Dalton raced untouched for a 76-yard score to give his club an 11-point edge.

An even bigger momentum swing came with under three minutes to play in the first half. Rather than keep the ball on the ground to run out the clock and go out into the locker room down by 11, the Gators came out throwing on a first-and-20 play from their own 31.

Cimarron defensive back Mike Mundig made them pay, intercepting Alan Poutier's pass and taking it 32 yards for a touchdown. From that point, Green Valley never really threatened.

"I was in the right place at the right time, watching what they were doing," said Mundig, who added another interception late in the contest. "I knew my teammates would lay a couple of blocks for me to get into the end zone."

The Gators tried to get back into it early in the third quarter, but another interception by Dalton derailed their first drive.

Down but not completely out, Green Valley continued plugging away offensively behind the hard-nosed running of Danny Tanner, who rushed for 121 yards on 23 carries in his final game as a Gator.

A 1-yard touchdown run by Gardineer and the ensuing extra point cut the margin to 21-10 late in the third. But Cimarron's offense held the ball for most of the final quarter to thwart the visitors' comeback.

With the Gators keying on Spartan running backs Arnold Parker (46 yards), Leonard DeRoche (65 yards) and Darian Hall (36 yards), unsung Cimarron quarterback Andrew Mason took matters into his own hands to preserve the victory.

Mason shook off a fourth quarter interception to complete five of his next seven passes, leading the Spartans on a clock-eating 64-yard drive that culminated in a 4-yard touchdown run by Parker.

Green Valley scored on a 9-yard run with seven seconds remaining to make the score respectable. But there was no doubt about who had dominated this matchup.

"We came in with a good offensive attack, the defense came through and the special teams played well," Spencer said. "We played an all-around good game."

The Spartans will host Bishop Gorman in the semifinal round Saturday at 5 p.m. Earlier this season, the Gaels posted a 31-30 victory over Cimarron at Sam Boyd Stadium.