That seems to be the appropriate theme for the fifth-ranked Salado Eagles this season and Saturday night was no different.
Junior Garret Ward made the biggest play returning a critical interception for a touchdown to put a halt on Santa Rosa’s momentum and its season as Salado blasted the Warriors 60-0 in the Class 2A Division I Region IV final at Memorial Stadium.
“Our defense stepped up big for us when they had to,” said Salado coach Jeff Cheatham, whose squad posted its second consecutive shutout. “With Garrett making that, it was just a great effort by all kids on all phases of the game again.”
Added Ward: “Everyone steps up when they need to. We play as a whole and everyone plays their position.”
The District 25-2A champion Eagles (13-0) advanced to the state semifinals and will face fourth-ranked Tatum (12-1) - the defending Division I state champion - at 6 p.m. Saturday at Corsicana’s Tiger Stadium.
Santa Rosa finished its best season in school history at 11-2.
Trailing 14-0, Santa Rosa started to gain momentum with its passing game and moved the ball to Salado’s 23-yard line midway through the second quarter. With the Warriors facing third-and-9 on their 14th play of the drive, Ward picked off an errant pass and raced for an 80-yard touchdown to deflate the pro-Warrior crowd and give Salado a 22-0 cushion.
“We had called a defense and I had stepped back off the line and he threw it right to me,” Ward said, who later scored the final touchdown in the fourth. “I guess he didn’t see me and I took off.”
Added first-year Santa Rosa coach Joshua Gonzales: “We were just trying to make things happen and unfortunately we made a bad call. (The interception) just changed it real quick.
“We were getting back in it. It’s still 14-0 and we still have a chance. We were driving the ball a bit and nickel and diming them. It’s just one of those things that takes it away. That’s football.”
After a 41-yard opening kickoff return by Clayton Whitmire, Salado went to work.
Tyler Wright had a 7-yard gain, quarterback David Rosenau hit Whitmire on a 13-yard completion and Seth Collins ran 15 yards to the Santa Rosa 14. On the next play, Rosenau scored on a quarterback draw for a 7-0 lead just 1 minute, 59 seconds into the game.
Collins did the bulk of the damage on Salado’s next scoring drive.
He had a 13-yard run, a 14-yard reception and sprinted in 22 yards for a 14-0 lead with 52 seconds left in the first quarter. The Eagles went 80 yards on five plays, gaining a first down on each play.
After Ward’s interception return, the Eagles forced a three-and-out and took over at their 37. Wright capped a seven-play, 63-yard drive with an 8-yard run for a 30-0 halftime lead.
Santa Rosa ran 17 plays to Salado’s seven in the second quarter but was outscored 16-0.
In the second half, the Eagles went to the air. Patrick Prince picked off a pass and Rosenau connected with Wright for a 24-yard score on the ensuing play for a 37-0 lead. On Salado’s next offensive play, Rosenau connected with Jerod Lutz on a 43-yard touchdown.
After Blake Heller recovered a fumble on Santa Rosa’s next series, Rosenau hit Whitmire for his third touchdown pass of the quarter. He went 3-for-3 for 75 yards and three TDs in the third.
“That’s a tough team,” Gonzales said. “They’re here for a reason. They have size and quickness and tough kids.”
Added Cheatham: “It’s fun to watch kids play this well at this point (of the season). They know what you have to do.”
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
