Jaguars whitewash Copper Canyon
Boulder Creek posts 2nd straight win with dominating defensive performance
Boulder Creek 14, Copper Canyon 0
by Jason Stone

ANTHEM – With the school’s very first varsity football victory out of the way, Boulder Creek accomplished one more first on Copper Canyon’s unlucky Friday: the team’s first shutout.

Chris Russell intercepted two passes Oct. 13 to lead a dominating defensive effort for the Jaguars, who won their second straight game with a 14‑0 whitewash of Copper Canyon.

“When I think about it and all the things we’ve been going up against this year, we’re doing OK,” Jaguars coach Scott Heideman said. “We’re a first‑year varsity team and we’re going to take our lumps. But if a couple of bounces go differently, we could be 4‑3.”

If not for a second‑half collapse against Kellis three weeks ago, Boulder Creek would have been celebrating its third straight win. But as it was, the Jaguars (2‑5) earned their second straight thanks to touchdowns in the first and third quarters that proved to be all they needed.

Junior Devin Contreras, who is subbing for the injured Nathan Hay at running back, rushed for both scores and compiled 119 yards on 23 carries. Heideman said Contreras will be shouldering the load for the remainder of the season as Hay appears out of the year with a knee injury.

“He’s stepped up big,” Heideman said of Contreras. “With other people (out with injuries), we need other players to step up and get the highlights.”

Contreras provided the offensive punch with an 8‑yard scoring run midway through the first quarter and a 2‑yard plunge in the third quarter. Boulder Creek’s defense then took over the game.

The Jaguars held Copper Canyon, another first‑year program, to no points despite three drives inside the Jaguars’ 10‑yard‑line. Chris Russell, who intercepted two passes in the game, picked off the second late in the fourth quarter to preserve the shutout.

“Chris is a big‑time playmaker on our defense,” Heideman said. “Last year (on junior varsity), three of his five picks went for touchdowns, and he scored on one against Kellis for us this year. He just has big‑play capability.”

In Copper Canyon’s other two deep drives, the Jaguars held them on downs on one and Copper Canyon missed a field goal on the other.

Boulder Creek played the game after having a bye week the previous Friday. The Jaguars used the time to scout Copper Canyon, but won’t have the same luxury this week against Maricopa.

Maricopa did not agree to a game tape swap with Heideman, and the team does not make its statistics public.

“I don’t know much about them other than they are I‑based on offense,” Heideman said. “Preparation was the key to (the Copper Canyon) game. For (Maricopa), we’ll just have to focus on what we do best.”

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.