ESTEVES LEADS DOLPHINS TO 3RD PLACE FINISH

By Patrick Lujan

The Southern Dolphins finished in 3rd place for the second straight year in high school football, beating the JFK Islanders 22-0 in the consolation game of the ISA Football League Friday night.

Sophomore Nate Esteves caught two touchdowns and running back Kaden Cruz added another score. The pair hooked up for a two-point conversion as well.

The Islanders gave it a good fight early on, controlling most of the first quarter, but just coming up short after a 10-play drive.

After an interception by Southern safety Damion Quinata, the Dolphins got on the board as Kaden Cruz punched it in from five yards out with a great second effort to get into the end zone. After a quick 3-and-out, the Dolphins extended their lead to 14-0 when Ghasen Gaje found a wide open Esteves off a roll out.

Esteves wrapped up the scoring on the first play of the 4th quarter off a long pass from backup QB Johnnie Brub.

The Dolphins, with a good young core of freshmen and sophomores, played as if auditioning for next season with a variety of looks on both sides of the ball, experimenting with different sets and lineups. They even attempted four onside kicks, recovering two of them successfully.

SCORING SUMMARY

2nd Quarter

Southern: 6-0 – Kaden Cruz 5-yard run (run failed)

Southern: 14-0 – Nate Esteves 5-yard pass from Ghasen Gaje (Acovera run)

4th Quarter

Southern: 22-0 – Nate Esteves 23-yard pass from Johnnie Brub (Esteves pass from K. Cruz)

INDIVIDUAL STATS

PASSING

JFK: Mason Duenas 2-9-2 13 yds; Southern: Ghasen Gaje 6-15-2 65 yds TD, Johnnie Brub 1-1-0 23 yds TD

RUSHING

JFK: Dallas Mohr 7-27, Leon Santos 5-13, Vandahlei Mansapit 3-6, Mason Duenas 1-5, Eric Fejeran 1-3; Southern: Kaden Cruz 6-59 TD, Nate Esteves 5-33, Johnnie Brub 6-22, Corey Salas 3-20, Ezrah Acovera 3-19, Ghasen Gaje 1-17, Ervin Torres 2-15, Mason Calvo 2-7, Brenden Tablan 1-4, Bryce Maniebo 1-2

RECEIVING

JFK: Dallas Mohr 1-11, Vandahlei Mansapit 1-2; Southern: Nate Esteves 3-32 2TD, Kaden Cruz 2-32, Johnnie Brub 1-15, AJ Dela Cruz 1-9

TOP TACKLES

JFK: Mansapit 6.5, Mohr 6, Roman Sablan 4.5; Southern: Ervin Torres 4, Kaden Cruz 3, Damion Quinata 3

SACKS

JFK: None; Southern: Kaden Cruz

INTERCEPTIONS

JFK: Mohr, Mansapit; Southern: Quinata, Tablan

PENALTIES

JFK: 1-5; Southern: 7-55

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