Run, run, run the ball was Capital’s biggest weapon on offense, and its stout defense kept Moriarty off the Jaguar Field scoreboard in Friday night’s 41-0 non district rout

By Arnie Leshin 

Capital knew all about Moriarty’s preference for running the ball, so the Jaguars retaliated by presenting their own rushing weapon and shut down the visitors offense in Friday night’ 41-0 zip at Jaguar Field.

 

With the impressive win, Capital evened its record at 2-2 and the Pintos, who also lost (19-13) in week two at Santa Fe High, fell to 1-3.

 

Paving the way for the Jags was junior running back Luke Padilla and his new partner on the ground, Gio Munoz. They combined for a massive total of 456 along the ground, and scored three touchdowns each, Padilla, with his longest carry at 78 yards, also reached the end zone from 68 and 70 yards out. Munoz added TD runs of 40, 48, and 58 yards.

 

The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Padilla also became the program’s all-time leading rusher, passing Jeff Gallegos.

 

Moriarty never could respond, never could find an answer as the home team ate up time and kept the ball out of the Pintos’ hands. Through the air, the Jaguars totaled only 32 yards. In all, they had a grand total of 499 yards.

 

The Capital defense also excelled a week after its game at St. Michael’s was stopped late in the second quarter when storm warning and lightening threats were reported and the half-game that won’t be made up, ended with the Horsemen up 13-7.

 

This time, the Jaguars didn’t waste any time. Three minutes into the tilt, Padilla ran in the first touchdown. It was 21-0 at halftime and 35-0 halfway through the third quarter following Munoz’ 58-yard touchdown run.

 

The defense was aggressive, fired-up, and kept Moriarty from getting any momentum. The nearest the Pintos reached in Capital territory was when they were stopped on fourth down and two at the Jags’ five.

 

At that time, the outcome was never in doubt. They finished with 158 yards along the ground, 100 from coming from Cayden Dunn, and 79 with the clock ticking down in the fourth quarter.

 

Head coach Bill Moon, in his 36th year of coaching football, praised the defense of inside linebackers Sean Ullibarri and Andres Alvarado. He said they crowded the box and never let the frustrated Pintos come up with cut-back inside running. The single-wing Moriarty offense had but a pair of first-half rushing yards total more than seven yards.

 

The next stop for the Jaguars are at home with visits from Taos and Portales, and then comes a District 2-5A opener in Albuquerque against Del Norte.