Volcano Vista electric in win over Eldorado

A late start didn’t prevent Aurelius Wiley from putting on a show for homecoming.

The Volcano Vista quarterback accounted for five total touchdowns — four rushing and one passing — to lead the Hawks (4-1) to a 35-7 victory over Eldorado (1-3) on Friday night at Nusenda Community Stadium. The start of the game was delayed one hour due to lightning, but Wiley was plenty electric once play did begin.

“I was just being patient and waiting for the game to actually start,” Wiley said. “I was excited to play. It’s homecoming night.”

Getting off to a late start is nothing new for the Hawks in this young season.

“It’s our third (delay) of the year, so we’re used to that,” coach Chad Wallin said. “With homecoming and all the stuff going on, I was a little concerned about our attention to detail. Started the game a little flat … and turned the ball over early, but our kids responded well. That’s kind of the thing we like about these guys.”

Wiley’s first four touchdowns came on the ground. The junior quarterback racked up 140 rushing yards in the first half alone, scoring on runs of 7, 30 and 17 yards to give his team a 21-7 lead after two quarters. He also capped off an 81-yard drive on Volcano Vista’s opening drive of the second half with another 17-yard scoring run to increase the margin to 28-7.

“I realized that they were playing more of the pass game on defense, so they weren’t really covering the run,” Wiley said. “I took my opportunities, and I took (advantage of) every chance.”

The last of Wiley’s highlights, a 20-yard scoring toss to Zach Corona, gave Volcano Vista a comfortable 35-7 lead with 6:34 to play in the third quarter. The Hawks were never truly threatened the rest of the way.

Not bad for someone who began the season as a slot receiver but was thrust into duty under center after starting QB Spirit Penn-Cook suffered an injury.

“He’s starting to get comfortable in the offense,” Wallin said of Wiley. “He’s starting to get the ins and outs of things. His athleticism, when a play breaks down, he can extend plays for us.”

While Eldorado was able to run the ball with some success — primarily behind the efforts of Nolan Romero-Williams, — the Eagles sputtered at critical times. Their first three drives of the second half ended in an interception and a pair of turnovers on downs in Volcano Vista territory. Eldorado benefitted from a short field on its lone scoring drive of the first half — in part due to the Hawks’ unwillingness to kick to Jahari Morehead — as it drove 57 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 1-yard scoring plunge by Matthew Rodriguez to briefly tie the game at 7 apiece.