by David Tesitor
HOEHNE- You can call the Redskins the ‘Comeback Kids.’ Skin quarterback Ron Ortivez orchestrated one of the best fourth-quarter comebacks in his tenure, as La Veta defeated Hoehne 30-22 in dramatic fashion. La Veta scored three touchdowns in the last quarter and held the explosive Hoehne offense to only one, cinching the victory.
La Veta got on the boards first, midway through the first quarter when they executed a flawless drive, taking the ball seventy-one yards for the score and an early 8-0 lead. That was the only score they could generate in the first half. Their only other scoring opportunity came in the second quarter as they had a first and goal from the five, but an excellent goal line stance by the Farmers and subsequent interception turned the ball over right before the half ended. La Veta trailed as they entered the locker rooms 16-8.
The Redskins scored midway in the third but the two-point conversion failed. With time running out, La Veta trailed 16-14. The Farmers then went to work, pounding the middle line with large gains from scrimmage and running over the Redskin defenders, but they were unable to find the end zone. La Veta forced the ball to turn over on downs, holding the Farmers scoreless until the midway point of the fourth quarter after Brandon Tortorelli took the Farmer ball 65 yards to the La Veta 5-yard line. The next play, Bryan Schaffer took it in for the score and a 22-14 lead.
La Veta went to work, putting together a drive which concluded with Jared Rae finding the promised land from six yards out. The two-point conversion was successful and suddenly the Skins were back into the game tied at 22 with 4:08 remaining. The Farmers began to drive the ball downfield, looking for their first win of the season. The key turning point of the game came on a 3rd and 8 when Jesse Pacheco dropped Mac Turner for a twelve-yard loss, forcing a 4th and 20 and stopping the drive.
La Veta began their final drive on the 44 with 2 minutes remaining. Ortivez dropped back on the first play and connected with Dalton Mason for twelve. Two plays later, Ortivez ran the option off the Farmer weak side, breaking past the defenders, and tight-wired the sidelines for a forty-one yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was good and the Skins took the lead for good with less than one minute to play.
Coming from behind and beating a team at home is impressive and the Redskins escaped with their undefeated record intact. They will play Sangre de Cristo in league action, tomorrow at 1 pm. SDC has struggled this season and is looking for their first victory.
