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By Candido Taman
Senior Leo Diaz made history Saturday scoring Tiyan High’s first touchdown in their football team’s existence. Although the defending champs took the 21-13 victory over the Titans, Tiyan High School made a statement by putting he defending champs in hot water for an entire half.
“I was watching Leo Diaz in the previous games, he’s a kid with a lot of talent,” said GW head coach Ryan Rios. “I was telling my players at anytime he can break it; when he scored it was a wake-up call for our team.”
Diaz shocked everyone in attendance when he took a handoff up the left side and forced his way into the end zone, a rare feat to accomplish against a seasoned Gecko defense.
With less than four minutes left on the clock in the 4th quarter, a pass that was intended for sophomore Vance Perez was bobbled in the air and caught by teammate John Espino put the Gecko offense on the one-yard line.
The play had set up heroics from Damon Hocog for the final score of the game. The George Washington Geckos took their homecoming game, but the league took wide notice that a bright future lies ahead for the Titans.
Remember This, Titans
Tiyan’s defense kept the game in their favor with physical play from Mark Laanan, Agusto Salas Alfredo Blas and stand out Leo Diaz forcing GW to punt the ball a number of times, which is where Leo “Lightning” Diaz was able to find his second score of the game.
“The ball bounced one time, I took it; looked up and all I see is the sideline open up. I shook one tackler and read my blocks,” said Diaz on his second 90 yard score that was followed by their very first field goal kick, in school history, which was successful put Tiyan up 13-0 in the second quarter.
Redemption came in the form of a recovered fumble by Mason Pangelinan in the Gecko end zone, which put the Geckos on board 13-6 in the third quarter.
That defensive score by GW sparked up their offense to get on board from their consistent ground attack.
Player of the game Ryan “Hollywood” Quitugua might not have been in the endzone for a score, but he produced the yards needed to get them there, and then some.
The Gecko ground attack proved successful yet again getting them to the red zone along with the legs of mobile quarterback Brendan Santos.
From nine yards out, Santos found junior receiver Jared Taisipic at the bottom corner of the end zone for their next score. A bad snap on the conversion gave “Hollywood” Quitugua the go ahead run putting GW up 14-13.
“We didn’t take them as the opponent they are; we came in thinking that we were just gonna have the game handed to us. It was our homecoming. Tiyan came to play,” said Quitugua on Saturday’s match up.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

The Tiyan Titans didn’t get the win, but they made history. Titans Mark Laanan, Leo Diaz, and Anthony Blas led the Titans charge. (photo by Richard Camacho IV)

Gecko Ryan Quitugua is stopped behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. (photo by Richard Camacho IV)


GPS Sports Calendar
March 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
28th
Events for March
2nd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
Events for March
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
ISA GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
4th
35th RAINBOWS FOR ALL CHILDREN 3.5 MILER
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS
Events for March
5th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 3
Events for March
5th
Events for March
6th
Events for March
7th
Events for March
9th
Events for March
11th
GSPN PRESEASON BOYS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT DAY 1
Bank of Guam Block Party 5K
Events for March
12th
Events for March
13th
Events for March
14th
Events for March
15th
Events for March
17th
World Athletics Indoor Championships
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
18th
PAY-LESS KICK THE FAT 5K/10K
World Athletics Indoor Championships
Events for March
19th
Events for March
21st
Events for March
25th
MARIANAS OPEN PRO JAPAN TOURNAMENT
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
26th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 4
Events for March
28th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
30th
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
IIAAG GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Events for March
31st
IIAAG BOYS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

MMA/Boxing
BENAVENTE BRINGS RARE SKILL TO FIGHT GAME

Running/Track
SPECIAL OLYMPICS TRACK EVENT ON APR 1

Volleyball
EAGLES HOLD OFF WARRIORS IN 5 SETS

Jiu-Jitsu
MARIANAS OPEN TO TAKE OVER TOKYO

MMA/Boxing
BENAVENTE BRINGS RARE SKILL TO FIGHT GAME

Volleyball
EAGLES HOLD OFF WARRIORS IN 5 SETS
COMING SOON …
- 4th Quarter Sports
QUICK HITS
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Guam MTB National Championship: Edward Oingerang and Jennifer Camacho are your 2023 MTB national champions. Oingerang finished the course in 1:13:24 while Camacho won her second straight title in 54:08.