Coyotes' 2nd half surge downs Cowboys

A week after knocking off a previously undefeated Anderson Cubs squad, the Colusa Cowboys midgets team set their sights on the Willows Coyotes' undefeated record Saturday in Willows.

After taking an 8-0 halftime lead, the Cowboys' (8-4) improbable run ended when the Coyotes (12-0) scored three times in the third quarter for a 22-8 victory and earned a berth in the Northern California Federation Midget Division Super Bowl against the Chico Jaguars (8-3) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Enterprise High in Redding.

Ricardo Ruvalcabe punched in a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down late in the first half and Anthony Mena made it 8-0 after booting the conversion kick.

The Coyotes began their comeback in the third quarter. Daniel Chavez caught a 41-yard pass from Gilberto Macias and a few plays later Chavez scored on a 5-yard run but Colusa's Dylan Jones blocked the conversion kick, maintaining an 8-6 Cowboy lead.

Willows forced a punt on Colusa's next drive but Chavez returned it 67 yards for a touchdown and the conversion kick by Jose Santillan made it 14-8.

On Colusa's next drive, the Coyote defense stripped the ball and Esparza quickly found Chavez for a 25-yard touchdown pass, Willows' third score in less than four minutes.

The Cowboys were unable to close the deficit in the fourth quarter and their highly successful campaign came to an end.

Chavez and Esparza intercepted passes for the Willows defense, and Mena had an interception and Ruvalcabe recovered a fumble for Colusa.

CONTACT Kirk Barron at 458-2121 or kbarron@tcnpress.com.