Hamilton stopped by Modoc

ALTURAS — If any tears were shed by members of the Hamilton High football team at the end of its Saturday football contest against Modoc High, they would have fallen like icicles in the bitter cold of Alturas.

The temperature on the high school's marquee read an optimistic 32 degrees at game's end, but the scoreboard displayed more ominous numbers — mainly Modoc 39, Hamilton 22 — ending Hamilton's Northern Section Division IV title run.

The two teams were originally scheduled to meet Friday at Ed Carver Stadium, but the snow in the mountains granted Hamilton a one-day reprieve from the 212-mile trip. On Saturday, with the snow pushed to the sidelines and past the end zones, it was 9-2 Hamilton versus a Modoc squad that had won its previous 21 games, with a trip to the championship on the line.

The Modoc County Record reported that Modoc coach Shaun Wood said controlling Hamilton's Omar Diaz would be a key to the game, and that he believed Modoc's Braves would be able to control the line of scrimmage. The latter one happened, but unfortunately for Hamilton, it didn't get much of an opportunity see what Diaz could do. After rushing for 79 yards on Hamilton's first two possessions, the senior running back was sidelined with an ankle injury and would not return, forcing Hamilton's Braves to alter their offensive approach.

"It was just about Zach Swain stepping up his game in Omar's spot. We also put sophomore call-up Will Rosen in the fullback spot," said Hamilton coach Mark Cooley. "They both did a fantastic job offensively."

Modoc struck first with 1:25 remaining in the opening period. After being backed up to their own 7-yard line following a Joey Vanhoutte tackle for a three-yard loss, Modoc QB Webb Dunn found Jeremy West open across the middle, and after regaining his footing, West took it the distance for a 93-yard score. The extra-point attempt sailed wide to the right, but Modoc led 6-0.

Hamilton pulled ahead in the second quarter, when Swain broke the plane from two yards out and Rigo Sanchez split the uprights for a 7-6 lead.

Following an interception later in the quarter, Modoc's Matt Mayes scored the first of his four TDs on a 3-yard carry, with the PAT making it 13-7.

Hamilton also went to the pass, with the Braves utilizing all 6-feet, 4-inches of Erik Smith's frame for a number of completions. The biggest came with a minute left in the first half, when he went up in the air and came down with a 25-yard catch, landing on the pylon for the tying touchdown. Sanchez's kick made it 14-13 Hamilton at the break. "I felt we could pass against them," the coach said, "in hindsight, we probably should have thrown more. The receivers did a good job of making plays."

A Hamilton fumble on its opening series of the second half proved costly, when Modoc's Tee Wilson capitalized for a 39-yard scoring run. Vanhoutte blocked the PAT, making it a 19-14 ballgame.

Modoc continued pushing Hamilton back on defense, with its offensive line opening holes just big enough for Mayes to slide through on a number of dives. He would finish with 132 yards on 22 carries.

Mayes scored again on a 29-yard dive in the fourth quarter, and later scored from three-yards out in the fourth period to put Modoc up 32-14 with just 4:38 remaining.

Swain got the six points back on the ensuing kickoff, when he picked the ball up at the 27 and followed his blocking down the middle of the field for a 73 yard TD return. His return brought the enthusiastic Hamilton crowd to its feet — a cheering section that also was attempting to drown out the Modoc supporters who were allowed to park their vehicles around the schools' track on both sides of the field and root from the warmth of their cars. With some Modoc supporters hurling less-than-sportsmanlike verbal barbs toward the Hamilton players, play was delayed twice as the Modoc athletic director cautioned them against such activity.

With precious little time remaining, Mayes scored his fourth and final touchdown on a 26-yard carry, and following an interception, Modoc was able to take a knee to run the clock, and Hamilton's season, down to zero.

Craig Purcell is sports editor of Tri-County Newspapers. Contact him at 824-1036 or sports@tcnpress.com.