Special play reflects special start for Sultans
- Updated: September 19, 2015
TRyan Photography Photo
By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (9-19-15) — It was a great night to be a Sultan as the Santana Sultans took on the Aztecs of Montgomery High in Friday night’s (Sept. 18) showdown in Santee. It was a great night because the Sultans came out and took care of business by steamrolling the Aztecs by a score of 41-0.
The Sultans were looking to get back on the right track after a stinging shootout loss in their last home game. They came out in the first quarter and scored on their first drive which took 7 plays and covered 49 yards, topped by a FRANKIE GUTIERREZ 3-yard quarterback keeper. The score for the Sultans came in the first few minutes of the opening quarter. They would tack on another score at the 2:30 mark on a 11-yard TD strike from Gutierrez to BROCK ELLIS to lead 14-0.
Santana quarterback Frankie Gutierrez delivers an aerial during the Sultans’ win over the visiting Aztecs Friday night in Santee. / TRyan Photography photo
The second quarter was more of the same for the Sultans as Gutierrez tossed three more touchdown strikes. It is said that records were meant to be broken and that is exactly what happened at the 6:20 mark as the Sultans were backed up on their own 3-yard line after a key interception in the end zone by KIERAN RUNNELS. With the Sultans on their own 3-yard line Gutierrez took the snap and found an open AIDEN RASMUSSON who hauled in the pass and did the rest as he raced past Aztec defenders into the open plain and from there it was off to the races all the way to the end zone for the 97-yard score.
Santana’s record-setting connection of FRANKIE GUTIERREZ and AIDEN RASMUSSON.
With the long haul the Gutierrez-to-Rasmusson combo broke the previous top record of 86 yards by JOHN FIELDS from DJ BUSCH, which was also for a touchdown and occurred all the way back in 1999.
It wasn’t just the offense for the Sultans that came up big in the first half but the defense really did a number on the Aztecs, limiting them to a total of 122 yards of offense. On the other side the Sultan offense racked up 293 yards of total offense.
With the Sultans leading by a wide margin it was the end of the night for the starters including Gutierrez, who finished 9-13 for 233 yards and 4 touchdown passes and even rushed for 2 scores. The only blemish was that he tossed his first interception of the season but it wasn’t a biggie. Receiving wise, Rasmusson had his first 100-yard receiving game of his varsity career with his 4-155 yards including the 97-yard catch. He also caught 2 scores.
TRyan Photography photo
ADAM CHILDRESS the Sultans leading receiver caught 3 balls for 57 yards and a score.
So with the starters out on offense and the score the way it was the whole second half was played under running clock rules. The Sultans defense harassed the Aztec quarterbacks the whole night as they were able to record 5 sacks.
