Raiders handle victory in stride

Cibola celebrated its Gila Valley Region football title-clinching win like it was just another victory.

The Raiders (5-4) remained perfect in the region play after Friday's dominating 63-0 win over San Luis at Raider Field. Cibola can run the GVR table with a victory over Gila Ridge next week at home.

Maybe next week Cibola will celebrate?

"Possibly, maybe after we play one more game," Cibola coach Lucky Arvizo said. "We really don't focus on celebration. We really try to focus on playing well. Gila Ridge is our focus right now."

After shaking hands with the Sidewinders and then meeting with Cibola coach Lucky Arvizo, the team sped off the field like it had in its three previous GVR wins.

The Raiders scored on every possession except for their final one. Roy Thompson rushed for two scores - runs of 14 and 18 yards - in limited duty. The senior running back carried the ball six times and finished with 101 yards in one quarter of work. In the process, he broke the school's single-season rushing mark. Coming into the game he was 81 yards shy of the milestone.

Thompson has 1,354 yards on 249 carries and 18 touchdowns on the season with 829 yards and 13 TDs coming in region.

"That wasn't our goal," Arvizo said. "All of our goals right now are team goals."

Five different Raiders ran for touchdowns as Cibola finished with 315 rushing yards to only 15 yards for San Luis. Backups Jesus Medina and Zac Hansen nearly had 100 yards rushing. Medina had 82 yards on eight carries and 7-yard score, while Hansen had two TDs on 13 carries and 95 yards.

Cibola led 49-0 at the half after a 15-yard scoring run from Jacob Lopez.

"Our focus was to come out and play hard and fast and play well," Arvizo said. "Our kids did a good job, stayed focused and played hard."

San Luis (0-9, 0-4 GVR) had the ball inside the Raiders' 10 yard-line just twice. The first potential scoring drive ended with a Billy Noel interception as time expired in the first half.

With the game winding down, the Sidewinders turned the ball over on downs at the 2 with under 3 minutes to go in the game - Jose Hernandez caught a 9-yard pass from quarterback David Contreras on fourth-and-goal from the 11.

Contreras hit Hernandez for a 50-yard gain on the late drive. Hernandez had three catches for 73 yards.

Contreras was 10-of-20 for 171 yards and two interceptions.

Cibola defensive lineman Andre Hernandez intercepted a shovel pass at the San Luis 14. Two plays later, Chad Plymale scored from 4 yards out.

The Raiders got two scores from special teams. Blake Brazeel blocked a punt, scooped up the loose ball and returned it 5 yards for a 14-0 lead.

Coldy Pletch ran a punt back 50 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

San Luis finishes its season next week at home against Kofa.