Meza scores four TDs, El Capitan defense records shutout in rout of Golden Valley

Ethan Meza rushed for four touchdowns as El Capitan recorded the their shutout in school history with a 31-0 win over Golden Valley on Friday night at Veterans Stadium.

Meza’s first touchdown run was 1-yard run that gave the Gauchos (2-3, 1-0 Central California Conference) a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.

Meza added two more 3-yard touchdown runs in the second quarter that helped El Capitan expand the lead to 24-0 at the half.

Meza’s final 3-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter gave the Gauchos a 31-0 lead.

“We wanted to establish our running game,” said El Capitan coach Frank Solis. “Our linemen had a big game. We had the momentum from last week and we wanted to keep that with us. We just stuck with what worked for us last game.”

Meza now has seven touchdowns in the last two games.

“At the beginning he wasn’t a starter for us on offense,” Solis said. “He bought into our system. He’s fought hard every day. We want him to keep working hard.”

The Gauchos other score was a 20-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Reid to Ronald Harris in the second quarter.

Golden Valley moved the ball, but failed to score despite advancing the ball inside the 5-yard line of the Gauchos on three occasions.

Solis was pleased with the Gauchos defense.

“Man, they came out fast, hard and smart,” he said. “Our middle linebacker Lucas Duda did a tremendous job of getting our guys in the right position, especially in red-zone situations. His leadership was phenomenal.”

It’s the first time in school history that the Gauchos have strung together consecutive wins. El Capitan will travel to Turlock next week. Golden Valley (0-5, 0-1) travels to Buhach Colony.

This story was originally published September 23, 2017 at 12:14 AM with the headline "Meza scores four TDs, El Capitan defense records shutout in rout of Golden Valley."