YOUTH SPORTS: High Desert Kings end Irvine Chargers’ hopes for a 2-0 start

The Irvine Chargers 10-and-under team poses for a picture. (Photo courtesy Irvine Chargers)

Fresh off a 30-6 victory at Inglewood, the Irvine Chargers Senior Clinic 10-and-under football team had ideas of a 2-0 start.

But the High Desert Kings dashed those hopes early Saturday afternoon at Irvine Stadium with a 47-0 victory. The Kings marched 60 yards on their opening drive, capped off by a 10 yard run from Keyon Yarber, but Irvine’s defense stood strong on the PAT. Carsten Rasmusen and Laurence Thorne stopped the King’s ball carrier at the 1 yard line.

Irvine fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the ball was recovered by High Desert’s Allen Royalton at the Charger 24 yard line. One play later, with 3:32 in the first quarter, Kizzee King went off right tackle for the second Kings score to make it 12-0.

Alex Gourdine took the Desert Kings kickoff out to the 34-yard line. Quarterback JoJo Jordan and the Chargers found a little offensive life behind their front five of Matthew Wang, center Benji Chavez, Paul Perez and Anthony Torrez as Christopher Fields and William “Bubba” Bryant Jr. gained seven yards.

But a tackle for loss on the following play forced a Chargers’ punt. On the final play of the first quarter, Royalton took one play to punch it in for a third time from the Chargers’ 20 to make it 19-0.

The Chargers started the second quarter with Eiler King under center at their own 42. Short gains from Bryant and Fields brought up third and seven.

King found receiver Malahki Allen for another short gain. On fourth down, in punt formation, a low snap resulted in a turnover on downs. A few plays later with 5:22 to go in the half, Micah Jones went right up the middle for 40 yards to give the Kings a 26-0 lead.

The Chargers received the kickoff to start the third quarter but were forced to punt after three plays. On fourth down Jordan West blocked the punt and Aiden Tanks recovered at the Chargers 8.  Moments later, Bryce Johnson found King in the end zone to push the Kings’ lead to 33-0.

After a penalty, the Chargers put a drive together thanks to a couple of defensive penalties and behind some outstanding blocking from the offensive line of Anthony Torrez, Carsten Rasmussen, Musik Flowers and Lucas Garcia. Eiler King carried twice on quarterback boot legs for 18 yards setting the Chargers up inside the red zone.

Bryant carried to the 15 before penalty backed the Chargers up to the 22. Moments later the Kings ended the threat with an interception at the 6-yard line. 

On the final play of the game the Kings threw a deep ball to Aiden Tanks from their own six for the final score.

–Submitted by Irvine Chargers

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