Delhi senior Hayden Steger led the ground game for the Hawks after rushing for 110 yards and scoring two touchdowns in Friday’s 41-0 win over Riverbank after controlling the pace from start to finish.
“With the determination and the brotherhood that our linemen share, I have absolute trust and faith in my brothers and they will take me as far as I could go,” said Steger. “When we come out and practice hard every day, all we do is work the hardest and we all love each other, we will try to get the extra inch and yard every time.”
The Hawks game plan was executed to perfection in their home contest against the Bruins on Friday in every phase.
The Bruins were held scoreless, turned the ball over three times and only notched a total of 32 yards.
“We really focused a lot on defense this week. We knew what we could do offensively. Coach Joe [Cantu] put together a great game plan,” said Delhi head coach Rod McCombs. “We just wanted to limit their opportunities. The game plan was to win the first half battle on both sides of the ball and I think our numbers showed we won.”
Now, with their second win heading into a bye week, the Hawks and coach McCombs feel that this win will boost their confidence as they head into league play in less than two weeks.
“No matter what happens in league, and if we lose every game from this point on or win, either way, I know I am the real champion,” said Steger. “At the end of night I will have all my brothers from this team who will always be there and not only for this football season for the rest of our lives.”
The first half was all Delhi, after firing away in the opening drive with a six-play drive that ended with a Jesus Soto 22-yard touchdown run.
In Riverbank’s first play on offense, Delhi’s Sergio Hernandez picked off quarterback Nathan White, essentially setting the tone for the rest of the contest.
“We didn’t let them have anything and kept their quarterback in the pocket and we didn’t want them to hit the outside,” McCombs said.
Steger notched the second touchdown for the Hawks with a three-yard bolster up the gut to take a 14-0 lead.
Steger scored the touchdown of the game in the Hawks' next drive after bruising his way through the tight holes with a 31-yard run , putting the Hawks up 21-0 in the first quarter.
Delhi tallied 337 yards on the ground, with quarterback Garrett Thomas adding on 100 yards on the ground after carrying the rock seven times.
The only real miscues for the Hawks came after two dropped passes that were potential touchdown opportunities on deep throws, as the intended receivers had trouble holding on to the rocket throws from Thomas.
“We are trying to progress the passing game because in the past the lack of passing has hurt us and to load up on it is hard and we have gotten much better,” said McCombs. “We’re just not trying to show too much before league so we have got a bunch of plays we still need to run and, fortunately, we have them in the bag.”
Delhi will begin play in the Southern Athletic League when they return from their bye week as they will travel to Denair to take on the Coyotes at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26.
“We are looking forward to Denair, they are basically our cross town rival,” McCombs said. “It should be fun. It will be a head knocker.”
