Whitehorse Raiders on a roll

by Leo Platero

When was the last time the Whitehorse Raider football team started 2-0?  Nobody knows, but under new Head Coach Franando Fonseca, the Raiders clobbered Navajo  Pine, 50-12 in Navajo, NM and blanked Navajo Prep, 43-0 at the Tibbitts Middle school football field in Farmington, NM on September 6.  

On August 29 in the Navajo Pine game, punter and extra point kicker Jarran Cowboy” Martin and Janathan John had an outstanding game, according to Coach Fonseca.  

It was 20-12 at halftime, but in the second half, the Raiders stopped the run and knocked down the pass enroute to a lopsided win, 50-12.

The Raiders had a slow start, but eventually worked out the bugs and started to play in the second quarter. The big lineman kept Navajo Prep from sustaining any offense and the offense did a good job moving the ball up and down the field.

In the Navajo Prep game, the mercy rule went into effect at the end of the third quarter. As a result, most of the scoring was in the first half.  Sophomore speedster Shawn Dickson scored three touchdowns, Josiah Begay score one touchdown, and quarterback Joshua John also ran for a touchdown. The Raiders racked up 200 yards.

“However we didn’t do so good on our passing, we just completed two out of 15,” said Coach Franseca

On defense, Janathan Yazzie, Emillo Begay, Reshawn Jim, Randall Haskan and Kenny Whitehair kept the Eagles from scoring or even moving down the field.

“We gave everyone on the team a chance to play, all 28 players on the team,: said Franseca.

The Raiders are healthy and ready to play Shonto Prep in Shonto, Arizona in two weeks.  That game is on Wednesday September 17.”

The big test for the confident Raiders will be in two weeks on September 20 at home against San Juan JV team from Blanding.  

Helping Coach Fonseca is Assistant Coach Ed Reynolds and Coach Matt Baldwin.  Right now it seems that the Raiders are enjoying playing team football and can’t wait to play against teams on their independent schedule.

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