Running away with it

Taylor scores 5 TDs in 60-7 rout of Hidden Valley

Senior Collin Taylor runs down the field Friday night. He finished with 250 yards in the 60-7 win. For more photos, go to triplicate.com/photos The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Senior Collin Taylor rumbled for 250 rushing yards and five scores as Del Norte put a hurting to Hidden Valley 60-7 in the season opener at home Friday night.

While Taylor was nearly unstoppable it was a true team effort as the defense totally slowed down the Mustangs, the offensive line opened up holes and the quarterback play was good, as the Warriors threw for three scores.

Senior tight end Darien Simpson caught two touchdowns and senior wideout Kody Osborne caught a 50-yard TD from senior signal caller Julian Markussen, who threw for two scores. Sophomore Aaron Fitch threw for the third score and ran in for a touchdown to show how well balanced the team could be this year.

The junior varsity team also was strong earning a 41-0 win while limiting Hidden Valley to under 100 offensive yards.

“It was a great first game,” Warrior head coach Ray Rook said.

“How do you guys feel?” he asked his team after the game. “Good start.”

After the game a humble Taylor said that lot of the applause had to be given to the offensive line. He said they were a big reason he had the game he did.

“I give great credit to my line,” he said. “They blocked well for me. I had holes you could drive a truck through.”

On the Warriors’ first offensive possession Taylor ran for a 60-yard score. It was called back on a holding penalty.

But Taylor was far from finished.

With 4:28 left in the opening quarter he sliced and diced his way for a 45-yard touchdown run.

With 3:36 left the Warrior defense recovered the ball around the 20 yard line of Hidden Valley. Six seconds later Simpson grabbed a 16-yard touchdown to make things 14-0.

Senior tight end Darien Simpson grabs a touchdown during the game against Hidden Valley Friday night. Del Norte opened the year with a convincing 60-7 win to improve to 1-0 overall. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

At the start of the second quarter the Mustangs got on the board on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 10:34 remaining.

The Mustangs kicked the ball off to Taylor.

Big mistake.

Taylor took the ball and looked like he was in an arcade game as a nobody could tackle him as he rushed 85 yards for the touchdown to make things 26-7 with 10:21 left until the half.

A short time later senior Bronson Richards had a nice interception grab to get the ball on the Hidden Valley 38-yard line.

With 6:50 left Fitch found Simpson from 5 yards out to make things 33-7. The kick was blocked by Hidden Valley.

With 4:56 left Markussen found Osborne for 50 yards to make things 40-7, which is what the scoreboard read at the half.

In the second half Taylor was far from finished. He caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Markussen with 9:22 left in the third to make the game stand at 46-7.

The scoring for Taylor ended with a nifty 43-yard score with 6:14 left in the third quarter.

The final touchdown was scored by Fitch on a 1-yard run after taking a punt deep into Mustang territory to make things 60-7.

After the game Warrior defensive coordinator Fritz Baldwin told the team, “You guys can be happy but don’t be satisfied.”

Rook agreed, telling his team, “Be happy but realize we’ve got to keep working.”

After all next week they will face Ferndale, which always puts out a top-notch team.

Rook said he was pleased with the way both the offensive and defense were able to control the tempo of the game and play well as a unit.

There were still too many penalties, which needs to be worked on Rook said.

But overall it was a great first game, he said.

“I thought we executed well,” Rook said.

At halftime, members of the 2011 Del Norte High athletic Hall of Fame were honored.

The six women inducted are Susan Jeppsen Short, Karen Hintz Howard, Heather Durham, Mary Timmer, Sandy Wetzel and Sasha Tomasini.

The nine men inducted are Dee Spenn, Don Morgen, Rod Griffin, Danny Sousa, Stacy Morgen, Dave Scott, Jason Seybold, Jeremy Lacy and Eric Costello.

Del Norte next plays on Saturday, Sept. 10, against Little 4 opponent Ferndale on the road. The varsity game is at 2 p.m., while the junior varsity game is at 11:30 a.m.