Football: Monahans rolls past Midland Christian

MONAHANS The way Monahans was blocking up front Friday, it didn’t matter who was playing quarterback.
The Loboes were without injured starting signal-caller Quincy Titus, but the Loboes’ offensive line — and defensive line, for that matter — dominated Midland Christian in a season-opening 43-27 win at Estes Memorial Stadium.
“That was a lesson in Football 101,” Mustangs head coach Greg McLendon said. “We were the students. They were the teachers.”
Monahans rushed for four touchdowns and 282 yards, most coming in a first half that saw the Loboes ahead 36-6 at halftime.
Fullback Colby Denton and running back Art Aranda led the way, each providing a different style but similar results as the Monahans’ line controlled the trenches.
“I really, really have to give credit to the offensive line,” said Aranda, who finished with 101 yards rushing on four carries, including a first-quarter touchdown that helped put the Loboes ahead 7-6. “The holes were just there, and it made things pretty easy.”
Denton, who has a more bruising running style compared to Aranda’s shiftier runs, tallied 168 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
“I just run,” he said. “I don’t really try to cut much.”
An interception touchdown return by Ricky Robledo in the first quarter made it 14-6 and sparked the Loboes.
Junior Wade Roark, making his first-ever varsity start, had the luxury to look at some pretty runs or enjoy time in the pocket thanks to steady pass blocking.
Roark finished 7-of-8 passing for 112 yards along with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Rex Rose in the second quarter that made it 22-6.
“I have a really good line that’s been there before,” Roark said. “I knew if I was just calm after the first snap, everything would be OK.”
With Titus’ injured ankle, there is a chance Roark will start Sept. 11 at Sweetwater — the Loboes are on bye next Friday — and that seems to be fine with head coach Mickey Owens.
“With Wade Roark, it’s not a question,” Owens said. “He can handle the game, and we feel just as good with the offense with him.”
On the other side of the ball, the Loboes defensive line was just as stout. Midland Christian was held to 87 yards rushing on 30 carries and was never able to establish rhythm.
If there is anything Monahans needs to improve on, it’s the team’s pass coverage.
Indeed, with Midland Christian behind so early, quarterback Bryant Burleson was given the green light to pass, but often receivers were open — he finished 15-of-23 passing for 364 yards, three touchdowns and one interception — and the Loboes were unable to stop his go-to receiver, Zak Davis, who had nine catches for 203 yards.
But Monahans does have an early open week to fix things and get healthy. Tight end Calvin Franks left with an injury early in the third quarter and never returned, outside linebacker Xavier Ramon was sidelined with an injury, and Titus is also a starting defensive back, making a healthy return for him even more critical.
“Last year, I didn’t like the early open week,” Owens said. “But we need it this year. We have things to work on and people are banged up.”
The linemen, though, are well and there if you need them.

Monahans 43, Midland Christian 27

Midland Christian          6    0 7                                    14  —                                    27

Monahans                   14  22 7                                      0  —                                    43

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Midland Christian: Richard Miller 73 pass from Bryant Burleson (kick failed), 10:15.

Monahans: Art Aranda 49 run (Ty Horton kick), 9:17.

Monahans: Ricky Robledo 47 interception return (Horton kick), 8:15.

Second Quarter

Monahans: Rex Rose 16 pass from Wade Roark (Aranda run), 11:55.

Monahans: Colby Denton 2 run (Aranda kick), 5:42.

Monahans: Roark 2 run (Horton kick), :36.

Third Quarter

Monahans: Denton 2 run (Aranda kick), 8:11.

Midland Christian: Tanner Dobbs 4 run (Josh Willis kick), 4:21.

Fourth Quarter

Midland Christian: Zak Davis 56 pass from Burleson (Willis kick), 7:48.

Midland Christian: Stephen Withrow 28 pass from Burleson (Willis kick), :15.

———

TEAM STATISTICS

Yardstick          Midland ChristianMonahans

First Downs      17                    13

Total Yards      451 394

Rushes-Yards 30-87 34-282

Passing Yards 364                        112

Passing           15-23-1                        7-8-0

Fumbles-Lost  0-0                        3-0

Punts-Avg        3-45.7                        2-50

Penalties-Yards                        3-27                        4-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Midland Christian: Christian Whigham 4-8; Tanner Dobbs 12-20; Carson Machen 8-60   Zak Davis 1-0; Bryant Burleson 2-(-1).

Monahans: Arturo Aranda 4-101; Colby Denton 16-158; Byron Scharf 5-14; Wade Roark 1-2; Mathew Santiago 3-17; Micah Ramsey 3-12; Wade Roark 2-(-20).

Passing

Midland Christian: Bryant Burleson 15-23-1— 364.

Monahans: Wade Roark 7-8-0—112.

Receiving

Midland Christian: Richard Miller 1-73; Zak Davis 9-203; Christian Whigham 3-24; Stephen Withrow 1-28; Dillon Friedrichs 1-36.

Monahans: Scharf 2-26; Aranda 1-17; Rex Rose 2-32; Trevor Owens 2-37.