High Desert Football: Hesperia shuts out Adelanto, Andres Sanchez snags two interceptions

Andres Sanchez got some instant gratification that he desperately needed after three years of busting his tail at Hesperia High School.

That gratification came in the form of an interception in the third quarter Friday night.

“It was a great feeling. Finally getting my chance to start on varsity this year,” Sanchez, a senior, said after Hesperia’s 35-0 victory over Adelanto at Julian Weaver Stadium on Friday night. “This is only the second game I’ve started. Like, it was such a relief because I knew that all that hard work I’ve put in during my time here at Hesperia finally paid off.”

Sanchez’s interception came on Adelanto’s first drive of the second half. Sanchez stepped back in coverage and saw the ball in the air intended for Adelanto’s Devon Easley. Sanchez lept up, snatching the ball away and being greeted by his teammates, giving the Scorpions the ball at their own 30-yard line.

“When the ball was in the air I just went up for it,” Sanchez said. “He’s a good player. He went up for it as well. I thought he was going to head-top me, but you know, we got the interception.”

The drive stalled out for the Scorpions and they had to punt.

Sanchez came up big again later in the third quarter. The Saints were deep in their own territory, facing first-and-35 from the 13-yard line. A deep pass intended again for Easley was caught in stride by Sanchez for the interception, again giving Hesperia the ball back with 4:13 left in the quarter from the 42-yard line.

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“My mind was racing. I was just so excited. It was a great feeling,” Sanchez said. “Coach (Vinny) Fazio, put up a game plan specifically for this team and we went out and executed. All props to the defense for this great night. Ending off with the win and two interceptions — it feels amazing man.”

Taking care of business

Hesperia running back Zamar Malveux had a lot on his mind entering Friday night’s game. Malveaux knew he would be the featured running back all night long with teammate Da’Lon Williams out with a foot injury.

Also in the back of his mind was a homecoming of sorts. Malveaux, a junior, played football as a freshman at Adelanto High School before transferring to Hesperia last year.

Malveaux didn’t get a chance to play last season against Adelanto due to a five-game sit-out period following his transfer.

He got things started for Hesperia in the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.

“I used to come here as a freshman so I just had to come out here and handle business, put in the work,” Malveaux said. “It felt great setting the tone early.”

Adelanto’s next possession ended short after a bad snap led to a fumble.

Hesperia’s Walter Roe escaped the scrum with the ball for the turnover with 1:32 left in the quarter. That led to Hesperia doubling the lead midway through the second quarter on another short touchdown run from Malveaux.

The running back added a third touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give the Scorpions a 21-0 lead.

“A lot of grit,” Hesperia head coach Casey Goodnough said when asked what he saw from Malveaux on Friday night. “He is doing a lot of things right. He’s a workhorse and he’s always positive. I liked his attitude tonight and how he played.”

A 'bumpy road' ahead

The troubles for Adelanto continued in the second half. The Saints never seemed to find a rhythm in moving the ball and extending drives in the midfield.

A turnover on downs after the Saints failed to convert a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter led to Hesperia taking a 21-0 lead.

Once Hesperia took a 28-0 lead in the fourth quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Aden Satchel to Nathan Rodriguez, Adelanto fumbled the ensuing kickoff.

The Scorpions capitalized on that turnover, scoring on a five-yard touchdown from Michael Vital.

Despite being 0-2 on the season, losing both games by a combined score of 80-7, first-year head coach Nate Stokes sees a lot to build on.

“It’s a few things here and there. Maybe a missed block on this play, maybe a dropped pass on that play and then those things kind of just start to add up,” Stokes said. “We know we are a young team and so we just gotta keep grinding. We gotta take our lumps. It will be a bumpy road. We just gotta manage it and just keep pushing. Heads up. We are not going to win every game so we just gotta keep building and grinding.”

What’s next

Both teams are back in action next week on the road.

Hesperia has a short week of rest, playing in a second Thursday night game this season. The Scorpions will take on Granite Hills in the first official game held at the brand-new football stadium at Victor Valley College.

Adelanto is on the road against Vista del Lago on Friday night.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: High Desert Football: Hesperia shuts out Adelanto, Andres Sanchez snags two interceptions