GRAND JUNCTION | After six frustrating quarters in its first two games, the Vista PEAK offense exploded in its final two quarters Saturday against Central of Grand Junction.
In a matinee on the Western Slope at Stocker Stadium, the Bison managed just six points in the opening half against the Warriors, giving them just 12 points for the season following a six-point effort in their opener against Eagle Valley.
But in the third and fourth quarters, Vista PEAK (1-1) finally found the right formula and piled up 50 points to slingshot past Central 56-48 and give first-year head coach John Sullivan his first victory with the program. The 56 points represents the second-most points scored by the Bison in three-plus seasons of varsity football behind the 62 they put up against Skyline in 2012.
Sophomore quarterback Derrick Smashum threw for 477 yards and five touchdowns — including three to junior Dylan Holt, who also had 211 yards receiving — and senior Justin Davis rushed for 175 yards and three scores in Vista PEAK’s huge offensive showing.
Seniors Alex Hawkins and Brandon Turner-Frazier also caught touchdown passes for Vista PEAK, which erased a 16-point halftime deficit and also climbed out of a 14-point hole in the third quarter.
The Bison took a brief six-point lead in the fourth quarter when Davis scored on a 6-yard run, only to see the Indians tie it up minutes later. Holt — who missed the season opener as he returned from injury — caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Smashum with 1:48 remaining for the eventual winning score.
Vista PEAK returns to action at noon on Sept. 19 when Mead pays a visit.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
Statistics courtesy of Tim Harty, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
VISTA PEAK 56, CENTRAL (G.J.) 48
Score by quarters:
Vista PEAK 0 6 28 22 — 56
Central 14 8 20 6 — 48
SCORING
First quarter
Central — Tonka Little-Fawn 1 run (Cade Balleweg run)
Central — Cade Balleweg 94 run (run fail)
Second quarter
Vista PEAK — Justin Davis 1 run (pass fail)
Central — Balleweg 19 run (Alex Marquez pass from EJ Barrera)
Third quarter
Vista PEAK — Dylan Holt 9 pass from Derrick Smashum (Holt pass from Smashum)
Vista PEAK — Davis 67 run (Alex Hawkins run)
Central — Noah Galyon 56 pass from Barrera (Little-Fawn run)
Central — Trey Ehlers 19 pass from Barrera (run fail)
Vista PEAK — Holt 20 pass from Smashum (pass fail)
Central — Balleweg 1 run (run fail)
Vista PEAK — Alex Hawkins 84 pass from Smashum (pass fail)
Fourth quarter
Vista PEAK — Brandon Turner-Frazier 21 pass from Smashum (pass fail)
Vista PEAK — Davis 6 run (Davis run)
Central — Balleweg 4 run (run fail)
Vista PEAK — Holt 26 pass from Smashum (Davis run)
RUSHING
Vista PEAK: Justin Davis 27-175, Derrick Smashum 6-28, Jaidyn Thrift 5-30
Central: Cade Balleweg 21-187, Jeremy Buniger 13-36, Tonka Little-Fawn 2-16, EJ Barrera 5-15
PASSING
Vista PEAK — De. Smashum 25-42, 477 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 interception
Central — Barrera 11-26-0-129, Ryan Weller 3-4-0-18
RECEIVING
Vista PEAK — Dylan Holt 13-211, Alex Hawkins 6-169, Brandon Turner-Frazier 4-42, Quincy Sanders 1-6, Tyrese Bailey 1-19
Central — Noah Galyon 3-91, Trey Ehlers 3-38, Darrion Alton 1-4
