(GILBERT, Ariz.) Five first-quarter touchdowns paved the green-and-yellow brick road to victory on Friday, as the Knights defeated Bourgade Catholic 61-14, proving there's no place like home. With the win, GCHS keeps its 5-0 home-turf streak alive, and moves to 5-3 on the year.
Gilbert Christian's captains took the field for the coin toss, electing to receive, which turned out to be the brainy decision, as junior Sam Webb took the opening kick-off to the house, running like a tornado up the field for an 83-yard touchdown. Senior Kaleb Powell's pink slipper did the trick on the extra point try to give the Knights a 7-0 edge at 11:46.
Powell's magical slippers struck again two minutes later, as he pulled in a pass from junior quarterback Tyler Burr and ran it in, flying into the endzone and successfully kicking another EP to put his squad up 14-0.
Burr's wizardry found sophomore Kamari Stanbury next, who showed heart (and speed), taking the ball all the way down the left sideline for a 62-yard touchdown to give GCHS a 21-0 edge at 4:57.
Bourgade Catholic managed to put together a big run of its own a minute later, securing its first, and only, touchdown of the half before adding to its total with a two-point conversion to make it 21-8.
Senior Nate Dickinson got involved in the scoring frenzy with 2:05 to play in the quarter, picking up his own TD on a 28-yard pass from Burr, and his defensive classmate Jesse Morales finished the whimsical quarter with a 16-yard pick-six to show off all the wonderful things he does for the team as the Knights took a 34-8 advantage into the second quarter.
Following the golden path set by his senior class comrades, Andrew McGuigan struck next, laying out to pull in a nine-yard rainbow-arched toss from Burr, before junior kicker Caprice Chiuchiolo put her first through the goal post to extend the big lead for the Knights.
The remainder of the half was all Powell and Burr, who teamed up for back-to-back scores to show that the dreams you dare to dream, really do come true, with diligent practice and some courage.
The second half featured less action, but each team managed a touchdown before it was time to return home.
Gilbert Christian junior Charles Tofaute finished the Knights' effort with his first touchdown of the season, a five-yard run, to register the final score at 61-14.
Tofaute's 43-yards led GCHS in rushing, while Stanbury came out on top of the receiving statistics with 116 yards on three receptions.
Powell's three touchdowns and four PAT's fronted the offensive effort, though he was aided in the kicking department by Chiuchiolo's three extra points on the night.
The GCHS defense presented its offense with plenty of field time, coming up with wicked stops and amassing four interceptions, courtesy of Morales, Stanbury, sophomore Luke Swingle and freshman Evan Scott, in the rout.
Freshman Austin Tinter led all players in tackles in the affair.
Football heads on the road to Benjamin Franklin on Friday, October 20th (7:00pm) for its second to last regular season game of the year. The team looks to complete its perfect home-season slate on Gilbert Christian's emerald turf for homecoming on October 27th.
-GO KNIGHTS-
