Diamondbacks show overall improvements - St. George Daily Spectrum

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Beaver Dam High School's football team improved in all phases of its game during the second week of the season, but was pummeled 68-0 by an athletic and speedy Spring Mountain team Friday night at Virgin Valley High School.

The Diamondbacks executed better, tackled more effectively, played tougher defense and achieved more offensive success but had the misfortune to play a team that could excel in Class 2A 11-man football instead of the eight-man game it plays currently.

"The difference between the way we played last week and the way we played tonight was night and day," said Rory Hurley, head Diamondback coach. "We played a flat-out better team. They had two steps of quickness on us all night. We had fewer dumb penalties and had a few great passing plays.

"Our speed did not let us get away from them. They're good. They're fast. Their speed hurt us."

Spring Mountain is operated by the Clark County School District but also is part of the Spring Mountain Youth Camp in the county juvenile justice system. Rosters undergo several changes throughout the year, but the one constant for the Golden Eagles are their talented athletes.

Their talent was evident from the opening kickoff, which the spectacular Leroy Freeman returned for a 90-yard touchdown. Freeman also caught a 46-yard TD pass and returned an interception 75 yards for another touchdown.

Spring Mountain's specialty is the big play, and the Golden Eagles made several against Beaver Dam: a 75-yard punt return, a 30-yard quarterback draw, a 52-yard punt return, a 65-yard punt return, a 42-yard quarterback keeper and a swing pass that became a 73-yard play. They all were touchdowns. A blocked punt and subsequent Golden Eagle recovery led to a six-yard touchdown and a nine-yard TD run capped a six-play, 70-yard Spring Mountain drive.

The Golden Eagles scored four touchdowns during the first quarter for a 30-0 lead and added three more in the second quarter to lead 48-0 heading into the locker room at the half.

"We were down 55-0 and the kids were still going hard," Hurley said. "They fought through, even during tough times. Rigo Gutierrez is a leader from the word 'go.' As Rigo goes, so does the team. He didn't quit and wouldn't let these guys either."

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Beaver Dam showed more promise this week against a great team. The defense stopped a seven-play, 24-yard Golden Eagle drive on the D'Back 16 by forcing an incomplete pass on a fourth-and-14 play. The Diamondbacks had success with screen plays and passes underneath, and Beaver Dam did a better job inside runs. Sophomore quarterback Paul King continues to improve and has become a passing and running threat.

Beaver Dam put together its best drive of the night during the second quarter when it marched from its own 30 to the Spring Mountain 10 in seven plays. Biggest play was King's 45-yard pass to Tustin Molina. But the D'Backs, 10 yards away from the end zone with a fourth-and-two situation, ran out of time at the end of the half.

"We're dealing with only three seniors," Hurley said. "We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores. We made some good steps tonight and we had some decent execution. I told them it will take time. We're going from a pure running offense to a mostly throwing offense."

Friday the Diamondbacks play their first road game when they travel to Beatty High School for a 6 p.m. contest. They'll return home to play their first game on their own field against Fredonia Sept. 16.