Hawks pretty special in lopsided victory

On their own, special teams would have been enough Saturday for the Volcano Vista Hawks to outscore Sandia.

Class 6A’s fourth-ranked team blocked a punt for a touchdown and placekicker Kody Patton booted three field goals, as Volcano Vista routed the Matadors 51-13 at Wilson Stadium.

Volcano Vista (2-1) won all three phases, in truth, not just the special teams.

The Hawks defense didn’t allow the Sandia offense a snap on their side of the field until the final two minutes of the third quarter.

The offense showed balance with a variety of running backs and solid passing work from quarterback Aurelius Wiley, and then those special teams.

“We came out pretty soft in the first half, but came out in the next half and picked it up,” said junior running back D’Angelo Mitchell, who ran for a pair of touchdowns, one in each half.

Soft? Mitchell was asked. Volcano Vista, after all, led 23-6 at halftime.

“Our whole goal was to end the game before halftime,” he answered.

The Hawks didn’t quite get there, but they were never in trouble against the Matadors (0-3).

Mitchell danced his way for a 34-yard score five minutes into the game for Volcano Vista. Patton added a 26-yard field goal on the final play of the first quarter, though the Hawks had been at the Sandia 1 before a holding penalty — this was the one real thorn throughout the day for the Hawks, who had at least half a dozen holds — pushed them back.

Patton added two more field goals in the second quarter, including a 32-yarder on the last play of the half. And Jude Gonzales scored on a 3-yard run.

“With our size, we ought to be able to grind out some yards and the kids are doing a good job,” Hawks coach Chad Wallin said. “We have a good stable of running backs.”

Sandia’s only points came on a high, fluttering throw from quarterback Jahleel Lewis to sophomore George Smith, who caught it in traffic before turning and racing the rest of the way to complete a 58-yard touchdown. It was 10-6 at that point in the opening minute of the second quarter.

Both Lewis and Smith would leave the game soon thereafter with injuries, though neither is expected to keep them on the shelf for very long.

The Hawks put the game away with three touchdowns in a span of 3:57 in the third quarter. Wiley threw a nice 24-yard touchdown strike to Zachary Corona for 30-6, and those special teams bubbled up again on Sandia’s next possession, when they stormed in and blocked a punt at the goal line. Jude Herrera fell on it in the end zone.

And Mitchell added his second score soon thereafter for a 44-6 bulge. Volcano Vista felt it was important to rebound after a road loss at No. 2 Las Cruces the previous week.

“We wanted to make this a statement game to let everyone know that we’re not a pushover,” Mitchell said.

Volcano Vista football vs. Sandia: Photos