AURORA | The Central of Grand Junction football team trekked all the way from the Western Slope with a 21-game losing streak in tow, but made sure the long ride home was a happy one.
The Warriors scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally past Vista PEAK for a 41-32 non-league victory at Aurora Public Schools Stadium.
Senior quarterback Noah Butler accounted for four touchdowns — two rushing, one passing and one on an interception return — and senior Chris Mitchell also scored, but it wasn’t enough to keep coach Pat Rock’s Bison from falling to 0-2.
Vista PEAK trailed the Warriors by a score of 27-14 early in the third quarter before Butler went on a scoring binge in the final 10 minutes of the period that included touchdown runs of 7 and 5 yards and an interception of Central (G.J.) quarterback Wyatt McElwain that he took back 70 yards for a score.
The Warriors picked off Butler three times on the day and kept the Bison off the scoreboard in the final period, while Tonka Little-Fawn rushed for a pair of touchdowns to provide the winning margin.
Ironically, the last victory for Central (G.J.) also came at APS Stadium with a 46-26 victory over Hinkley on Nov. 3, 2011.
Vista PEAK is at Mead (0-2) at 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
CENTRAL (G.J.) 41, VISTA PEAK 32
Score by quarters:
Central (GJ) 7 13 7 14 — 41
Vista PEAK 0 14 18 0 — 32
SCORING
First quarter
Central (GJ) — Wyatt McElwain 33 yard run (Mike Estep kick), 5:01
Second quarter
Vista PEAK — Chris Mitchell 9 yard run (Alex Hawkins run), 7:29
Central (GJ) — Tonka Little-Fawn 1 yard run (run failed), 3:53
Central (GJ) — Kian McAdam 52 yard pass from McElwain (Estep kick), 1:13
Vista PEAK — Dylan Holt 10 yard pass from Noah Butler (pass failed), 0:00
Third quarter
Central (GJ) — Justin Eller 1 yard run (Estep kick), 10:31
Vista PEAK — Butler 7 yard run (pass failed), 7:22
Vista PEAK — Butler 5 yard run (pass failed), 3:30
Vista PEAK — Butler 70 yard interception return (pass failed), 0:00
Fourth quarter
Central (GJ) — Little-Fawn 36 yard run (Estep kick)
Central (GJ) — Little-Fawn 15 yard run (Estep kick)
RUSHING
Central (GJ): Tonka Little-Fawn 15-119, Wyatt McElwain 10-68, Justin Eller 17-66, Triston Dorrington 6-51, Darrion Alton 1-2, Kyle Martinez 2-0
Vista PEAK: Chris Mitchell 19-76, Noah Butler 19-73, Damian Wilson 1-(minus 3), Brayan Vasquez 1-(minus 21)
PASSING
Central (GJ): McElwain 4-15, 87 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Vista PEAK: Butler 15-35, 153 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions
RECEIVING
Central (GJ): Kian McAdam 1-52, Alton 1-15, Martinez 1-12, Rusty James 1-8
Vista PEAK: Dylan Holt 6-60, Alex Hawkins 2-39, David Smashum 2-25, Adam Priester 1-17, Wilson 1-7, Mitchell 3-6
