KIRTLAND – Colton Lucero scored three times in the first half, and Pagosa Springs survived a spirited second-half rally by Kirtland Central to win their season opener 42-27 Friday night at Bill Cawood Field.
Lucero, who scored a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown and pick-6 on a 98-yard interception return in the second quarter, added the finishing touches to the Pirates’ win, scoring from one yard out in the final minutes of the contest.
“We just got out slowly and made some key mistakes early, and we couldn’t recover from those,” Kirtland Central coach Travis Clary said.
| TEAM | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | FINAL |
| Pirates | 0 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 42 |
| Broncos | 0 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 27 |
Pagosa Springs quarterback Creede Dozier, despite getting off to a slow start, wound up with a pair of rushing touchdowns, gaining over 100 yards on the ground.
The Broncos fell to 0-2 on the season.
Kirtland Central’s offense had opportunities to score in the first half, but came up short on multiple occasions.
On the opening drive of the game, the Broncos drove down to the 5-yard line before turning the ball over on an incomplete pass from quarterback Chance Aspaas on fourth-and-goal.
In the second quarter, Aspaas fumbled the ball away, allowing the Pirates to score their first touchdown just three plays later when Lucero found a seam on a sweep to the right and raced for a 49-yard score.
The Broncos missed a field goal midway through the second quarter, then squandered another scoring opportunity deep in Pirates territory when Aspaas threw an interception to Lucero, who raced down the far sideline for a 98-yard return and a 15-0 Pirates lead.
“(Lucero) is a real special athlete and he made some great plays for us tonight,” said Pirates coach Nathan Morales.
Aspaas was picked off again in the final minutes of the first half, and Pagosa Springs quickly responded. Dozier eluded a blitz and found Lucero wide open for a 78-yard touchdown grab that appeared to seal the deal.
Aspaas threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns on the night, but was also picked off three times.
The Broncos came into the second half trailing 22-0 before giving up another score on the third play of the second half, when Dozier raced 68 yards to the end zone for a 29-0 advantage.
The Broncos scored twice to close the gap in the third quarter, putting together strong drives, capped off by Bryle Matthews’ 15-yard touchdown for the Broncos’ first trip to the end zone.
Kirtland Central scored on its next drive, going 51 yards on 11 plays and finishing with Chance Aspaas throwing an 18-yard pass to the far corner of the end zone to Jharrin Tyler. That score seemingly gave the Broncos some momentum.
The Pirates answered back just three plays later when Dozier escaped the rush and found clear sailing down the near sideline for a 29-yard score in the final moments of the third quarter.
Kirtland Central again rallied to keep themselves in the contest. On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Aspaas again connected with Tyler for a 63-yard touchdown.
Pagosa Springs turned the ball over deep in its own territory on its next drive. That opened the door for the Broncos, who took advantage just four plays later when Aspaas found Deronte Tso on a quick out route for a 1-yard strike, making it a 35-27 game with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Pirates ran the ball, and the clock, on its next drive, before eventually punting the ball away, pinning the Broncos deep in their own territory.
Aspaas’ third interception, the second of the game for Jessie Elledge, was converted into the final score of the night when Lucero powered into the end zone from two yards out late in the fourth quarter.
Kirtland Central will host Shiprock on Sept. 6, while Pagosa Springs is back on the road next week to tackle Centauri.
