Ponder runs wild as Wolves win, 41-18

Jeff Harrison
The Edmond Sun

October 04, 2008 01:15 am

— DEL CITY – Last week's loss to Mustang didn't sit well with the Edmond Santa Fe. On Friday night the Wolves found the cure in Randy Ponder. The senior tailback ran for 295 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Wolves past Del City, 41-18 Friday night.
Ponder had five carries of over 20 yards and did most of his damage in the first half when he found the end zone twice. The biggest came in the second quarter when he showed his speed, breaking an 86-yard touchdown down the sidelines, which gave Santa Fe a 20-0 lead with 9:12 left in the half. Ponder then capped his night with a six-yard score in the fourth quarter.
"It showed that our offensive line is really coming along, they're making their blocks and I'm rewarding them for making the holes," Ponder said.
Ponders' backfield mate Steven Sumpter helped carry the Wolves’ dominating ground game. Sumpter rushed for 82 yards and one touchdown in the win.
"Randy and Stevie are just a great 1-2 punch, when we're clicking with those guys we do a great job," Cocannouer said.
After a mistakes free first half, the Wolves (4-1) had a few costly slip-ups in the second half. The Wolves turned the ball over three times, which led to all 18 of the Eagles' points.
"The second half I thought we came out, but we made one little mistake and we just have to be a little more mentally tough," Cocannouer said.
Chazten Gonzales put the Eagles (1-4) on the board when he scored on a six-yard quarterback sneak with 10:10 in the third quarter.
Zac Arnold stepped in at quarterback, after Gonzales left the game with an injury. The junior tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, a 37-yard pass to Charles Hishaw, and a 31-yard score to Donovan Dan with 4:10 on the clock.
"We should have had two other touchdowns in the third quarter but our kids fought," Cocannouer said. "I just get nervous when we brought in some young kids out there and they score two quick ones on us."
Santa Fe's defense also came up with some big plays. In the second quarter, Tyler Souther picked off Gonzales' pass on the Eagles 21-yard line and ran it in for a score.
Michael Hodges passed for 114 yards and one touchdown. Hodges hit Jordan Mitchell on a seven-yard pass, which gave the Wolves a comfortable 34-0 half-time lead.
Mitchell led all receivers with four catches for 54 yards and a score.

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