nd weighing 125 pounds, senior Andrew Wright is the smallest player on the Sweetwater Red Devils football team. But Wright proved to be the biggest player on the field last Friday night as he scored two rushing touchdowns and amassed 166 yards in all-purpose yards to help lead his team to a 64-6 non-league victory against the Crawford Colts.
“I’m the smallest player out there but I give it everything I have,” said the diminutive Wright, who scored on touchdown runs of 41 and 11 yards and also collected 78 yards on two punt returns, including one for 53 yards. “It’s not easy being small but the mentality I’ve had ever since Pop Warner is to look for the biggest guy out there and have the urge to go knock him down.”
The Devils, who improved to 2-0 with Friday’s win, led 43-0 at halftime to deliver the KO punch against Crawford.
The second half of the game was played with a running clock.
Sweetwater made the score 50-0 on a three-yard run by junior Ricky Bullard before the Colts (0-2) finally got on the scoreboard courtesy of an 85-yard breakaway run by Darius Harris.
But the Devils had more left in their tank. Raven Middleton upped the SuHi lead to 57-6 on a 92-yard kick-off return to end the third quarter while fellow senior Jose Sandoval closed out scoring for the hosts on a short TD run with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
Senior Antonio Garcia scored two touchdowns for Sweetwater, as did senior James Zarate.
Overall, the defending CIF champions collected nine touchdowns, including three on kick returns, and added one field goal — a 19-yarder by Ricardo Perez in the second quarter. The National City bunch scored on all of its possessions in the non-league contest.
Garcia initiated scoring in the game by taking the opening kick-off back 93 yards. Zarate also had a 54-yard punt return in the first quarter as SuHi built an imposing 33-0 lead.
Wright is listed as a running back, corner back and kick returner. He has excelled in all facets of the game, and was mobbed by appreciative teammates after the team broke from its post-game huddle.
“I’m very proud of what he did tonight,” Garcia noted. “I had confidence he was going to do well this year and, from what he’s shown in his first two games, I feel nothing but joy for what he’s brought to the team.”
The win was Sweetwater’s 10th consecutive dating to last season. The Devils will be out to improve to 3-0 this Friday when host the Imperial Tigers. Game time is 7 p.m. at Gail Devers Stadium.
Sweetwater hosts arch rival Chula Vista on Sept. 19 in the teams’ annual Legacy of Pride game. The first game between the two schools took place in 1946. The rivalry game remains the longest running such event in San Diego County history.
The Devils are averaging 300.5 rushing yards per game, led by Wright with 97.5 yards per game.
Garcia and Wright lead Sweetwater in scoring with three touchdowns each.
The Devils are averaging 41.5 points per game after outscoring their two opening opponents 83-6.
Wright remained energized about last Friday’s performance.
“It feels super good,” he said. “We work together as a family. We may make mistakes, but we pull together and get it done. We’re not perfect. but we get everything done.”
Garcia concurred with what Wright said.
“It feels great to be 2-0,” he noted. “As long as we stay as a family, listen to the coaches and keep to our scheme, I feel confident our team will win CIF again.
Metro Conference Scoreboard
Non-League
Friday, Sept. 5
Sweetwater 64, Crawford 6
Eastlake 17, Vista 16
Otay Ranch 42, Grossmont 31
Castle Park 57, La Jolla Country Day 24
Mar Vista 30, Clairemont 0
San Marcos 41, Chula Vista 24
Patrick Henry 38, Hilltop 16
Coronado 42, Southwest 0
El Capitan 35, Mater Dei Catholic 0
Southwest El Centro 14, San Ysidro 10
El Cajon Valley 30, Montgomery 23
Bonita Vista bye
Olympian bye
Friday, Sept. 12
Chula Vista at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
Imperial at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
Santana at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
Bonita Vista vs. Mission Hills at SWC, 7 p.m.
Francis Parker at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
Orange Glen at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
Southwest El Centro at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Olympian at Morse, 7 p.m.
Otay Ranch at Mt. Miguel, 7 p.m.
Montgomery at Clairemont, 7 p.m.
Eastlake at Los Alamitos, 7 p.m.
Mar Vista at Harbor (Santa Cruz), 7 p.m.
Team records
(Through Sept. 5)
Otay Ranch Mustangs 2-0
Sweetwater Red Devils 2-0
Olympian Eagles 1-0
Eastlake Titans 1-1
Castle Park Trojans 1-1
Hilltop Lancers 1-1
Montgomery Aztecs 1-1
San Ysidro Cougars 1-1
Mar Vista Mariners 1-1
Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders 1-1
Bonita Vista Barons 0-1
Chula Vista Spartans 0-2
Southwest Raiders 0-2
