Green, Beyer grind their way to win over Golden Valley

Golden Valley High School couldn’t get the Beyer offense off the field in the second half.

Patriots running back Jay Green and his offensive line dominated as Beyer controlled the ball, the clock and the scoreboard, outscoring Golden Valley 12-0 in the second half to defeat the Cougars 26-20 on Friday night at Veterans Stadium. (See video interview with Green)

“We came together, and we woke up,” said Green, who completed a monster night with a go-ahead 87-yard touchdown run with 7:59 left in the game and finished with 240 rushing yards on 28 carries. “We started off slow, and we got a very motivational speech from our coaches at halftime. That set a fire in us. Our offensive line has been struggling, but they dominated the second half.” (Game highlights)

The Cougars (0-2) started strong early and looked in position to snap a 14-game losing streak. Isaiah Montanez returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown to give Golden Valley a 6-0 lead before the fans had a chance to take their seats.

The Patriots answered with a nine-play, 78-yard drive capped by a 16-yard touchown pass from Nick Trujillo to Josiah Coronado with 6:38 left in the first quarter. After the extra point was blocked, the score was tied 6-6.

Golden Valley linebacker Nathan Hoekstra set up the Cougars’ second score as he intercepted a Trujillo pass and set up the GV offense at the Beyer 29-yard line. Three plays later, Montanez scored on a 3-yard run to give Golden Valley a 13-6 lead.

The Cougars extended the lead to 20-6 shortly before halftime as Armando Muzquiz hooked up with Cadrian McDaniel for a 19-yard touchdown.

That’s when Green changed the game, picking up the ensuing kickoff at the 7-yard line, then breaking six or seven tackles on his way to a 93-yard kickoff return that pulled Beyer within 20-14 with 20 seconds left in the first half.

“That was all God,” Green said. “I just ran the ball. I kept moving my feet. I don’t know what else to say. I was going to let the ball roll into the end zone, but something told me to pick it up and run with it.”

Beyer took control of the game in the second half, running 31 plays and gaining 211 yards to only 14 plays and 44 yards for Golden Valley. The Cougars were limited to three plays in the third quarter as their defense was wore down against a big Beyer offensive line.

“We had a tough time stopping them,” Golden Valley coach Dennis Stubbs said. “Technically, we held them to only three touchdowns, but they controlled it.”

Beyer used a 12-play drive to tie the score 20-20 early in the fourth quarter as Trujillo found DJ Jackson for a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Golden Valley’s offense couldn’t give its defense a rest, running only four plays on the next possession.

Beyer took over at its 13-yard line, and Green broke free on the next play for an 87-yard touchdown run to give the Patriots a 26-20 lead with 7:59 left in the game.

“There was a lot of great blocking on that play,” Green said. “On the first level and the second level, there were great blocks. I think I was only touched by one person on that play.”

The Patriots racked up 316 rushing yards, with Jackson adding 73 yards on 12 carries.

“We were able to run like we can, and Jay did a tremendous job,” Beyer coach Doug Severe said. “Our offensive line just clicked tonight.”

Golden Valley lost Montanez to a broken finger with about 8 minutes left in the game. The Cougars still had an opportunity to drive for a win in the final minutes.

The Cougars got the ball back at their 46-yard line with 1:49 left. Muzquiz ran for 8 yards and hooked up with Brandon Reyes for a 16-yard pass to advance the ball to the Beyer 35-yard line with plenty of time left.

But on the next play, Muzquiz fired a pass that bounced off McDaniel and into the arms of Beyer defensive back Mike Qarqat for an interception that sealed the Cougars’ fate.

Many Golden Valley players took the loss hard. The Cougars’ last win came on Oct. 18, 2014, against Turlock.

“When you’ve been where we’ve been, it’s tough to get if off your back,” Stubbs said. “We’ve got to expect it and do something to get over this. Our guys have been doing everything we ask them to do. I tell everyone, ‘I’m really enjoying myself this year, and I haven’t done that the last three years. I enjoy going to practice.’

“I really feel bad for them. We have to get some results.”

This story was originally published September 5, 2015 at 12:41 AM with the headline "Green, Beyer grind their way to win over Golden Valley."