Prep football: Atwater's offense to blame for second straight loss, not defense

ATWATER -- Jordan Bell said it best.

Through gritted teeth, the Atwater defensive coordinator spun away from the field, away from the referee signaling another lost fumble, and barked into his headset:

"We look like a Pop Warner team out there," he said to an assistant in the booth above.

Offensively, yes.

Atwater's struggles to secure the football continued on Friday night in an 11-8 loss to Tracy Merrill West.

Quarterback Jacob Peterson scored on a 1-yard dive and Miguel Figueroa's 28-yard field goal with two minutes left in the game proved to be the difference for West.

One season removed from a run to the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs, Atwater is now 0-2, fighting frustration and searching for answers in the offensive huddle.

The numbers weren't pretty: eight fumbles, bringing Atwater's season total to 17, three of which were lost on Friday evening; one interception; five first-downs in the first three quarters; and two different quarterbacks.

The offense was punchless, unable to sustain drives. Atwater held the ball for less than seven minutes in the second half.

"I don't know what it is," head coach Bob Valladao said, removing his cap to scratch his head. "We feel like we're doing good in practice, but it's not carrying over into Friday nights. Every time we'd make a play or two we'd stall the drive.

"We have to figure it out soon. We got Los Banos next week. Hopefully, they get lost."

For two quarters, it appeared Atwater would need only its defense.

The pressure from the front seven accounted for the team's first points of the season -- a safety with 3:20 left in the first quarter.

After Chris Osborn's punt pinned West inside its own 5-yard line, Peterson mishandled the snap on fourth down, resulting in a safety.

Bell's defense holstered West's Pistol offense, building a blue wall at the line of scrimmage for most of the game. Five of West's first seven drives began in Atwater territory and not a single one finished in the end zone.

Jermey West, Andrew Morgan and the Atwater defense simply dug in.

Lineman Dustin Bender stuffed West running back Desean Watson (30 carries, 59 yards) at the 1-yard line on fourth down with 6:08 left in the second quarter.

One drive later, West picked up the first of his two sacks, throwing Peterson down like a discus near the 50-yard line, preserving the 2-0 lead at the intermission.

"Our defense did great," said two-way senior Armando Garcia, whose 1-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter gave Atwater some hope.

Garcia finished with a team-high 72 yards on 12 carries. He bullied his way in from the 1 with 1:30 left in the game to make it 11-8, but West covered up the ensuing onside kick.

"Our 'O' is to blame for this loss," Garcia added. "It's going to be a quick fix ... hopefully."

West surged into the lead in the third quarter, taking advantage of an Atwater miscue in its own end zone.

Acting as the punter, Osborn corralled a high snap and tried to flee the end zone. However, he was pulled down from behind for a safety to make it 2-2.

On West's next possession, Peterson capped a seven-play drive with a 1-yard sneak.

Figueroa made it 11 unanswered points with 2:14 left in the fourth.

Nonconference

At Atwater

West 0 0 8 3 -- 11

Atwater 2 0 0 6 -- 8

First Quarter

A -- Safety

Third Quarter

W -- Safety

W -- Jacob Peterson 1 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

W -- Miguel Figueroa 28 field goal

LB -- Armando Garcia 1 run (two-point failed)

Records: West 1-0; Atwater 0-2.

JV -- Atwater won, 27-7