Defeating Los Lunas, Miyamura now preps for No. 3 Centennial

ABOVE: Miyamura running back AJ Starkovich (21) rushes around the left end against the Los Lunas Tigers defense on Nov. 11. (Times photo – Paul Natonabah)

GALLUP

The running game has been a big part of Miyamura’s offense this season.

But when it came down to last Friday’s opening round game of the New Mexico Class 5A state playoffs, it was the defense that paid big dividends.

The Patriots advanced into the quarterfinals with a 27-2 win over No. 11 seed Los Lunas at Public Schools Stadium in Gallup.

With the win Miyamura earned a quarterfinal berth and will play No. 3 Centennial on Saturday< in Las Cruces.

“I am so proud of the defense; they really stepped up to the challenge,” Miyamura coach Wes Shank said. “They have a halfback that was probably the best halfback we’ve seen all year.”

Of course, Shank was referring to Los Lunas’ O’maury Samuels.

The sophomore halfback, who has a huge upside, averaged 135.6 yards per game in Los Lunas’ flexbone offense going into last Friday’s contest.

Miyamura held him to 38 yards on 12 carries.

He wasn’t the only one they stopped as the Patriots held Los Lunas to just over 100 yards of offense.

Shank also applauded the offensive line as they helped the Patriots constantly move the chains.

Miyamura was all over the place as they chalked up 313 yards with 265 coming from their running game.

“I thought our offensive line played extremely well in both halves,” Shank said. “We found our rhythm on offense.”

Shank said that display was the perfect elixir the Patriots needed to get back on track after losing to Aztec on Nov. 7 for the District 1-4A crown by a mere point.

“They are resilient and I think the coaches dwell on that more than the kids,” Shank said of losing to the Tigers, 36-35. “The kids do that and they just bounce back quick.

“It’s good to see that,” he said. “I have a good group of kids that have some mental toughness. I’m almost in tears because I am happy for them.”