Hargrave's Bunch Showing Toughness On The Road

As the 2009 Mesa Thunderbird Football Program got off the bus in Yuma, they started punching the #11 Matadors of Arizona Western right in the mouth.

 
Unfortunately, the Matadors landed the final blow, escaping with a 33-29 victory as the humongous offensive line of the Matadors eventually wore down the smaller defense of the T’Birds. 
 
It was clearly a tale of two halves. A 26-13 halftime lead for the Thunderbirds disappeared into the Yuma night on the ridiculous athleticism of AZ Western RB Reggie Bullock. Bullock nearly single-handedly outgained the entire Mesa offense, carrying 27 times for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Mesa’s total offense was 267 for the game. 
 
Taylor Perkins dazzled on this night as well, ending up 14 of 23 for 241 and three touchdowns. The ever-important zero in the interception column was a huge lift to an offense in dire need of production. Perkins’ touchdowns were spread out to three different receivers as Tanner Rehrer, Justin Brown, and Maurice Trotter all hit pay dirt. 
 
Leading the way on the ground for the Thunderbirds was Jarison Johnson, who gained 27 yards and scored on a 2-yard scamper. 
 
Point-after attempts seemed to be a problem for the Thunderbirds as an extra-point was missed and two of three two-point conversions failed. Add that up and Mesa gets out of there with a one-point win. 
 
Mesa did not turn the ball over once against a very strong defense. Penalties were down as well as Mesa had only half of the total yardage in penalties as AZ Western (151-79).
 
Zach Richards connected on the lone field-goal of the contest for the T’Birds, hitting one from 26. 
 
Mesa had a 23-point lead at the ten-minute mark of the second quarter. AZ Western took control of the game after that, dominating in the trenches. 
 
Mesa Safety Julian Madison, who has two interceptions on the season and the team lead in that category, seems to be lost for the season with a broken ankle. This comes on the heels of losing Wideout Michael Clore to a back injury.  
 
“We know we can compete with the best in the country, we just have to maintain for 60 minutes,” says Coach Carl Hargrave. 
 
Mesa comes home looking to get into the win column for the first time in 2009 as the Phoenix College Bears visit John D. Riggs Stadium on Saturday night September 26 at 7:00 p.m.
 
Spirits are up across the board and if the rest of the team can echo Assistant Coach Jaimel Hill’s sentiment, Mesa is about to embark on a seven-game win streak. 

The next three are at home against the aforementioned Bears, followed by the mighty Snow Badgers October 3, then the Gila Monsters of Eastern Arizona come up to Mesa for the rematch of the September 12 game.