Bullpups blown out

Aaron Sing continually ran past and through the Hanford defense Friday night at Neighbor Bowl.

And for that, El Diamante continues its reign as West Yosemite League champions.

Sing rushed for 303 yards and four touchdowns on 32 carries against the host Bullpups, leading El Diamante to a 48-20 victory to secure at least a share of a third straight WYL title.

The Miners (8-1 overall, 5-0 WYL) can secure the title outright with a victory next week against Golden West (0-9).

Hanford drops to 5-4 overall, 3-2 in the WYL.

"You have to give him credt," said Hanford head coach Josh Young. "He runs well and hard and we couldn't wrap him up.

"We didn't tackle him."

Sing wasn't the only reason for El Diamante's dominance against Hanford.

Big plays in the first half ballooned El Diamante's lead to the point where it was almost impossible to come back.

"The big plays set the tone," Young said.

The Bullpups didn't score until the second half, once they were already down 34-0.

El Diamante was quick to build that lead.

On the second play of its first drive, El Diamante's Josh Lorentzen passed to Isiah Rodriguez for a gain of 40 yards to move the Miners to the Bullpup 32.

Three runs set up a fourth-and-1.

Sing broke through, running the rest of the way for the 23-yard touchdown to make it 7-0 with 9:27 left in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, El Diamante drove from its own 31.

The Miners converted a fourth-and-1, then a third-and-22 on a 60-yard touchdown scramble from Lorentzen.

On Hanford's next possession, Bullpups quarterback Cannon Sanchez dropped back on third and short near midfield.

With defenders blitzing, Sanchez tried to lob a pass over them to a Hanford receiver.

It was intercepted though by Adam Gabel, who returned it 50 yards for the touchdown with multiple blockers in front of him to prevent Sanchez from making the tackle.

The Bullpups drove down the field on their next possession.

But Sanchez threw his second interception off the night on a bobbled ball by his receiver.

The Miners moved within the Hanford 10 on six plays.

On third-and-1 Sing bounced off blockers, stepped to his side, then ran 9 yards into the end zone to make it 27-0 after a blocked extra point attempt with 2:37 left in the half.

On El Diamante's second possession of the second half, the Miners took the ball at their own 17 after a Hanford punt.

One play later, Sing broke out past the Hanford line and scurried 68 yards to make it 34-0 with 5:33 left in the third quarter.

After trading possessions on fumbles, Sanchez marched the Bullpups down the field, including passes of 20 and 23 yards to Brandon Hudgins to set up a first and goal.

One play later, Sanchez scrambled for the touchdown to make it 34-7 with 2:08 left in the third quarter.

Hanford forced El Diamante to punt on its next drive.

The Bullpups made use of a short field, highlighted by Sanchez's 5 yard touchdown scramble.

After a Patrick Rubio touchdown from 40 yards out for El Diamante, Jared Loewen scored for Hanford midway through the fourth quarter.

"It's hard to take positives out of that kind of game," Young said. "But the guys didn't give up. I though Cannon played really well in the second half after having some early turnovers.

Sanchez was 18-for-35 for 248 yards..

Brandon Hudgins caught six passes for 122 yards.

Sing finished the night with another touchdown on El Diamante's next drive from 53 yards out.

The Bullpups finish the regular season next week at Lemoore in the Milk Can game.

Hanford won the junior varsity game against El Diamante 22-21.

(Nov. 7, 2009)