Del Norte runs away from Brawley in 30-point win

BRAWLEY — After monsoon rains canceled several games in the desert portion of the CIF San Diego Section’s Southeastern Conference, the field at Warne Field was soft and the atmosphere humid.

The weather didn’t stop Del Norte from claiming its third win of the season.

After a sluggish first half that saw the Nighthawks take a one-touchdown lead into halftime, Del Norte exploded for 30 second-half points to defeat the Brawley Wildcats 37-7 here Friday night.

Del Norte’s defense came out ready to play, limiting Brawley to just one first down in the first half. But the offense managed one touchdown, when Nighthawks quarterback Kaden Williams pitched the ball to wingback Caden Whiddon, who threw an option pass to Rylin Battle for a 48-yard touchdown.

Del Norte coach Nick Barnett, a former stnadout NFL linebacker, credited his team with getting themselves going on offense in the second half after regrouping at halftime.

“I think the two-and-a-half-hour drive took something out of them, but we told them before the game that Brawley does this all the time,” Barnett said. “I was a mental adjustment at halftime. We were in a funk and we needed to move forward, and our team responded, and it was good to see them get their energy up.”

Brawley may have aided in waking up the Nighthawks, as senior quarterback C.J.Retutal ran an option play 75 yards for a touchdown in the opening minutes of the second half to tie the game at 7-7.

From there it was all Nighthawks. One minute later, Madox Romans ran 53 yards for a touchdown to give Del Norte a 14-7 lead,

“They told me that I would be getting a lot of carries tonight, so I was ready,” said Romans, who would score on a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. “At halftime, I looked at some plays and I knew my guard (Devin Kelley) would open the hole and I was off.”

On their next possession, Williams connected with Riley Farrokhi on a 63-yard passing play, with the duo putting up another score on a 30-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter.

“I am looking for him on every play,” Williams said. “We worked all summer to develop a connection, and even when he’s covered, he’s open.”

Farrokhi came into the game as the Nighthawk’s leading receiver and was targeted by the Wildcat defense.

“They hit hard, but I’m good with that,” Farrokhi said. “I’m an outside guy and I’m usually isolated on one side, and I’m blessed with some height and good hands.”

The Nighthawks’ scoring was capped off with a 49-yard field goal by senior kicker Mateo Orosco, who also had six kick-offs land in the end zone for touchbacks.

“That is my fourth field goal of the season, and it is the longest,” said Orosco, who is ranked as high as 11th nationally by some college recruiting services. “I’ve been attending camps and preparing for this season, and I have a 60-yard plus range, and I’m ready for this.”

The decision to have Orosco attempt the field goal on the final play of the game was all on Barnett.

“He worked all summer to become a Five-Star recruit, and I wanted to give him a chance to show what he can do.”

The Nighthawks (2-2) will have one more nonleague contest when they host Chula Vista (1-4) before opening up Palomar League play against Rancho Bernardo on Oct. 3.

— TOM RONCO