AURORA | Rebounding from a Zero Week loss to Hinkley, the Vista PEAK football team took down a different Aurora Public Schools team — Aurora Central — on Aug. 30.
In the second game of a doubleheader at APS Stadium, following Gateway’s 28-25 win over Smoky Hill, the Bison scored the final 20 points of the game in a 20-8 non-league victory over the Trojans.
Junior Isaiah Young caught a touchdown pass and threw one on a double-reverse pass for Vista PEAK (1-1), which avenged a 54-26 rout administered to it last season by Aurora Central on the same field.
Senior Ayo Sanusi caught the touchdown pass from Young, while junior Noah Butler threw the 26-yard scoring strike to Young and senior Nathon Miller rushed for a touchdown for some insurance in the fourth quarter for coach Pat Rock’s Bison.
Taj Johnson — who rushed for a game-high 134 yards — scored the lone touchdown for Aurora Central (0-1) early in the second quarter on an 8-yard run and also ran in the 2-point conversion, but coach Taylor Calvert’s Trojans were blanked for the last 35:32.
In his first varsity start at quarterback for Aurora Central, sophomore Deron Harrell threw for 181 yards, but was intercepted five times.
Ja’Ron Kellum hauled in seven passes for 103 yards for the Trojans.
Vista PEAK is back in action at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at Faith Christian, while Aurora Central plays host to Abraham Lincoln at 6 p.m. Sept. 6 at APS Stadium.
VISTA PEAK 20, AURORA CENTRAL 8
Score by quarters:
Aurora Central 0 8 0 0 — 8
Vista PEAK 0 8 6 6 — 20
SCORING
Second quarter
Aurora Central — Taj Johnson 8 yards run (Johnson run), 11:32
Vista PEAK — Isaiah Young 26 yard pass from Noah Butler (Butler run), 2:54
Third quarter
Vista PEAK — Ayo Sanusi 58 yard pass from Young (kick blocked), 5:12
Fourth quarter
Vista PEAK — Nathon Miller 29 yard run (run failed)
RUSHING
Aurora Central: Taj Johnson 21-134, Deron Harrell 15-42, Jevin Jordan 4-16
Vista PEAK: Noah Butler 20-53, Nathon Miller 8-46, Mitchell 7-13, Adam Puehler 3-12, team (3-minus 38)
PASSING
Aurora Central: Harrell 14-26, 181 yards, 5 interceptions
Vista PEAK: Butler 9-20, 171 yards, 1 touchdown; Isaiah Young 1-1, 58 yards, 1 touchdown; Puehler 0-1
RECEIVING
Aurora Central: Ja’Ron Kellem 7-103, Devonte Phillips 6-57, Johnson 1-21
Vista PEAK: Young 4-113, Ayo Sanusi 2-69, DJ Ortiz 4-47
