Fort Worth North Side cornerback secures game-ending interception to defeat Saginaw
Trustin Holland was the hero for the Steers.
His game ending interception sealed the deal, and North Side defeated Saginaw 27-21 on Friday at Farrington Field. Holland said making the clutch play felt great.
“That’s what everyone dreams of,” Holland said.
Steer head coach Joseph Turner said he was surprised the Rough Riders decided to test Holland, a First Team All District 4 5A-D2 cornerback.
“He is a lock down corner,” Turner said.
It was a back and forth game, but Turner and the Steers found a way to hold onto the lead.
“Great job by the kids,” Turner said. “We got out here today. They took care of their jobs, but we still have some things that we have to work on offense, defense and special teams.”
The Steer defense locked down the Rough Rider offense with the exception of a few big plays. In the second half, Saginaw’s offense and special teams found ways to keep the game close.
“They’re a good staff,” Turner said. “They have some good players over there. They went into halftime and made adjustments. We had to make adjustments on the fly.”
Steers start strong
The first two drives of the game weren’t eventful, as the Steers and Rough Riders traded punts. Both offenses needed time to find a rhythm.
Saginaw, on the next drive, tested their luck on fourth and one on their own 39-yard line and failed to convert. The Steers capitalized with a seven yard touchdown drive capped off by a connection between quarterback Kevin Ortega and wide receiver Lorenzo Perez.
Perez celebrated the score but soon had a wakeup call, fumbling the PAT snap and throwing the ball away.
After a Saginaw three and out, Ortega found DeAndre Montgomery for a 36-yard pass. Six successful plays later, the Steers faced fourth and goal. They needed 3-yards to score and failed, but Saginaw gifted them an extra chance with a facemask.
Montgomery took advantage of the mishap, rushing in for a 1-yard score. Ortega made up for the missed PAT opportunity with a successful two-point conversion run.
Saginaw’s offense comes alive
After the two teams traded punts once again, Saginaw’s offense started producing results.
Quarterback Roman Morales connected with wide receiver Aidan Collier for a 68-yard score and all of a sudden the Rough Riders were back in striking distance with one big play.
Neither team scored in the following five drives. North Side had a golden opportunity in the red zone after a long, 16 play drive but couldn’t capitalize.
To start the fourth quarter, the Steers were facing fourth and goal on the 4-yard line. Ortega found Perez, who hauled in his second touchdown of the day.
The celebrations were quick, and Saginaw quickly responded with a 70-yard kickoff return touchdown from Jimmy Howard.
A frantic finish
It appeared as if North Side was running away with the ballgame after a fumble recovery by Isaiah Ybarra and a 38-yard touchdown run by Montgomery.
Saginaw found ways to respond all game, and they did so again. Noah Ambriz caught a 9-yard touchdown to make it a one score contest.
Time was on the Steers’ side, but they weren’t satisfied with draining the clock. Ortega and Montgomery took turns carrying the football but turned the ball over on downs in an eight play drive.
Saginaw’s next opportunity was quickly taken away due to a sack by Frank Westmoreland.
North Side had the ball in the final minutes with a chance to close the game.
Facing third down, Ortega was sacked and lost the ball. The Steers recovered but were forced to punt, giving the Rough Riders a potential game winning drive.
Saginaw ran a hurry up offense and found success with the first play. Morales completed a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Aidan Collier.
The Rough Riders were 15 yards from the red zone and one or two big plays could’ve won the game. The interception from Holland secured the win, and the Steers ended the game in victory formation.
Standout performances
The Steers relied on runs from Ortega and Montgomery for most of the game. The duo combined for 276 rushing yards; Ortega had 139 on 21 attempts while Montgomery tallied 137 on 28 attempts.
“I don’t know how you stop it,” Ortega said of himself and Montgomery in the backfield.
Montgomery, a junior, showcased his versatility, tallying 53 receiving yards. This is his first season as the Steers’ starting running back.
“He’s the guy that’s going to be a workhorse for us for a long time,” Turner said.
Perez finished with 51 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions. Ortega, as a passer, finished with 104 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 13 of 18 passing.
“I love it,” Turner said of Ortega’s performance. “He’s a great player. He’s just got to learn how to get down.”
The Steer defensive line did a phenomenal job applying pressure throughout the ballgame, forcing Morales to make quick decisions.
To build on the win, Turner said he’s looking to see more consistency and hard work from his team.
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