Harris' above-average performance pushes YC past San Manuel

After watching film, San Manuel coaches and players thought Ed Harris may only be an average running back, and weren't shy with their opinions. Seeing him up close and personal likely changed their minds.

Harris ran for 224 yards and four touchdowns for Yuma Catholic as the Shamrocks beat the Miners 48-6 in the first round of the 2A state playoffs. The win advanced Yuma Catholic to the second round where it will face Tucson-Pusch Ridge on the road, Friday.

"The line was just on it and on point," Harris said. "Each game could be your last out here, so I just played that way."

Harris scored on runs of 18, 15, 5 and 32 yards and led the Shamrocks' offense, which picked up 544 total yards. His most impressive play however came when quarterback Julian Higuera tossed the ball to Harris 7-yards deep with the Miners' defense closing in.

After stumbling initially, Harris put down his hand, dodged a defender and picked up 19 yards. He admitted after the game that he was motivated by being labeled average.

"It got me going a little bit, because I was like 'Really? We'll see," Harris said.

The Shamrocks' defense managed to pitch a shutout until the final six seconds of the game when Miners' quarterback Matt Phelps scored on a 1-yard keeper. Yuma Catholic held San Manuel to 232 yards of offense and limited the running game to 90 yards. San Manuel running back Steven Cline entered the game averaging 142 yards rushing, but was held to 51.

"I was very comfortable with the pass, our starting quarterback is a four-year starter," San Manuel coach Daniel Renteria said. "The team that got it done up front early in the game was going to get it done. Hats off to Coach Stallworth and his staff."

The Shamrocks' defense managed to pressure Phelps consistently, which resulted in three interceptions. Yuma Catholic's Rocky Rutherford, Tanner Mixon and Matt Koppinger each picked off a pass.

"They've played well all year, they got their opportunity to shine and they did it this week," Yuma Catholic coach Rhett Stallworth said, regarding his defensive players. "I thought it would be a tougher game, but the kids responded. I think it's because we kind of raked them over the fence about last week and some things they did."

The Shamrocks were clicking on offense throughout the entire game. The 48 points scored averaged out to one per minute.

Higuera finished the game 8-of-13 for 134 yards, rushed for 101 yards, and scored on a 6-yard keeper. Yuma Catholic's Tyler Moreno was able to pad Higuera's stats after he caught a pass which had been intended for and tipped by Josh Evans.

"I never saw the play, I was already yelling at the quarterback because it was a horrible pass," Stallworth said. "I was already looking at him, working on the next play and then I heard the crowd yell."

San Manuel's offense, conversely, was at it's best over the game's final 15 minutes. During the final possession the Miners drove the ball 87 yards and pulled out every gadget play, including two hook-and ladders. Those two passes combined for 66 yards.

"When you're up like that, you're calling basic defensive stuff, so those are bound to happen," Stallworth said. "That was actually the best hook-and-ladder I've seen in a long time in football, they execute it pretty good. That guy never caught it, he just pushed it back to the other guy, that was nice."