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Horsemen ride senior quarterback Antonio Gabaldon’s arm, legs and wisdom to gain a first-place tie in district
By ARNIE LESHIN, Santa Fe Today
The ball, the lead, the clock and a pair of knees and St. Michael’s pulled off a stellar football victory at Las Vegas Robertson Friday night.
It’s tough to defeat the Cardinals anytime, but to do it on their own field is something special. To hold talented All-State quarterback Arjay Ortiz’ team to but one field goal in the second half was extra special. To outscore the undefeated home team 21-3 over the last two quarters was a masterpiece.
And so it was, the Horsemen rode off with a 33-27 victory in the clash for first place in District 2-5A, ending Robertson’s unbeaten run at seven and putting themselves at 7-1 with games remaining at home Saturday against Santa Fe Indian School and at West Las Vegas the following Friday night.
With the Dons defeating Taos, 35-28, across town, it put them in a first-place tie with St. Michael’s. They play Robertson Friday night.
It was a splendid night for senior quarterback Antonio Gabaldon of St. Michael’s. Known for his strong arm, he mastered the option play, and whereas Ortiz came into this game as the headline quarterback, it was Gabaldon in the spotlight when all was done.
Two knees, and the celebration began. The Horsemen had pieced together an excellent offense to run the clock and keep the Cards from the ball. It forced them in calling all their timeouts as the minutes wound down and St. Michael’s either ran or passed and Robertson had no answers.
Head coach Joey Fernandez didn’t exactly say, we came, we saw, we conquered, but he did say he was proud of his team’s effort, that it beat a good team on the road, and that it was a total team effort, with added applause for Gabaldon.
The Cardinals scored first and converted the point-after. The Horsemen tied it at 7-7 by also making the PAT. But back came Ortiz to lead to another TD and the point-after made it 14-7. Again, St. Michael’s answered back by scoring, but a bad snap on the PAT left it behind 14-13.
It was 24-13 at halftime when the Cardinals went 72 yards in four plays and Ortiz found sophomore Padilla with a touchdown pass. From 21-13, it became an 11-point lead on Jerry Chavez’ first of two field goals, this one from 31 yards out.
But whatever head coach Joey Fernandez told his Horsemen at intermission turned the game around. Out they came to score three touchdowns, and the Cards had no answer, not even at home. The visitor’s defense kept them out of the end zone and out of making their usual big plays, while the St. Michael’s offense just played like a team that wanted a super bus ride home.
Having seen Ortiz play for three years, Gabaldon must have taken notes. He was patient, engineering an 80-yard drive that took up 4 minutes and 40 seconds. He showed poise. On a 3rd and 6 at the Cardinals’ 48, he faked a hand-off to Fernandez and took off for 16 yards.
On the drive that brought the 27-27 deadlock, he scrambled for five yards to the Cardinals’ 11 on 3rd and 8. Next, he found junior Hayden Lee at the 1 and then he carried the ball into the end zone. Sam Bach’s PAT evened the score and the Horsemen had all the momentum and confidence.
While Ortiz was pressured into three-straight possessions and not going anywhere, Gabaldon continued to go places. On 3rd and 18 on the drive that took the lead for the first time and decided the outscore, he threw 15 yards to Fernandez and then 22 yards to junior Luke Kastendieck who gathered it in at the Robertson 3. On the next play, it was senior Miguel Montoya carrying it into the end zone with 6:17 remaining. The point-after failed, so it was a 6-point advantage.
But Ortiz wasn’t the same in the second half. In the first two quarters, he tossed for 173 yards and ran for 119. In the second half, he did not complete a pass and added on only 19 more yards along the ground. As a team, Robertson had but 25 total yards in the second half.
Then, with the ball on the Horsemen 46 with less than four minutes to go, he was rushed on 3rd and 8 and sacked for a minus 19 yards. The Cards then punted and never saw the ball again.
Ortiz did start off in his usual manner. At 9:43, he took his team 77 yards in 8 plays and tossed a 23-yards touchdown pass to sophomore Jacob Estrada. But back came St. Michael’s, and Gabaldon. Starting on its own 26, he found Shawn Roybal with a sideline pass and the senior sped 74 yards to match the Cards’ score.
But Ortiz took off again, running and passing for 79 yards in four plays and a 14-7 lead. When the Horsemen answered back on Fernandez’ 10-yard TD pass from Gabaldon, the point-after failed so they were a point short.
The rest of the half was in Robertson’s favor. It went 72 yards in four plays before Ortiz hit sophomore Antonio Padilla on an 18-yard TD toss. Not long after, junior Jerry Chavez kicked a 31-yard field goal. In the third quarter, he added one of 27 yards to bring a 27-20 lead, but that was the last time his team scored.
Everything came together for St. Michael’s, especially in the second half. The blocking was splendid, protected Gabaldon well. The defense was aggressive, physical, and the Cardinals became frustrated over the final two quarters.
But the key was shutting down Ortiz. He was pressured by five, six Horsemen rushing him, closing him in and forcing him to throw the ball. He couldn’t maneuver his way and take off with the ball.
For St. Michael’s, it was the lead, the ball, the clock, two knees and the ballgame.
