September 29, 2012

Will Levi
NevadaPrepReport.com Publisher

Cimarron used a few breaks and the power running of fullback Desean Lewis to earn a win in the opening week of league play over Desert Oasis.

On the night, Lewis ran for three scores opening the game with a score from a yard out putting the Spartans up 6-0.

Desert Oasis wouldn't stay down and actually moved into the lead after a trick reverse saw Jordyn Compehos hit Marvin Duty from 28-yards out giving the Rattlers a 7-6 lead.

A big kick return for Cimarron would put them into the power position again as Lewis would get into the end zone once again from 4-yards out this time. The Spartans would have a 13-7 lead to end the first quarter.

Desert Oasis is a team that doesn't back down and a strike from Herman Smith to Compehos in the back of the end zone would move them back into the lead midway through the second quarter. A Cimarron scoring threat would be stopped with 14 seconds left in the second when the Rattler defense came up big at the 7-yard line. That would allow the Rattlers to maintain a 14-13 advantage at the half.

In the second half, everything worked against the Rattlers. A big interception by the Rattlers Blake Kutz started it all as he had a big return before fumbling the ball back to Cimarron near the 40. The Spartans would use the momentum to power into the end zone behind the legs of Mike Barnson midway through the fourth taking a 21-14 lead.

After the Rattlers stalled, the Desert Oasis defense made another huge stop on fourth-and-1 but there were questions if the ball was fumbled forward and recovered by Cimarron. The play was ruled by the officials as an inadvertent whistle with a replay of the down. The Spartans would escape off the right side on the replay of the down with a 21-yard Lewis touchdown capping the drive against a frustrated and tired Rattler defense moving the score to 27-14 with 1:43 left on the clock.

Herman Smith would rise to the occasion driving Desert Oasis for a quick score hitting Compehos from 15-yards out with no timeouts left leaving 32 seconds on the clock.

On the following kickoff, Cimarron would secure victory to end any threat by recovering the ball walking away with a fortunate 27-20 win the open division play.