Fallon running back Deonte Wallace lunges for the end zone Friday against Sparks.
Photo by Thomas Ranson.
Lanky receiver Calin Anderson made the most of his varsity debut by snaring two passes for touchdowns to help lead Fallon to a 43-7 Northern 3A homecoming win over Sparks on Friday at the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex.
Fallon improves to 3-2 overall, 2-0 in the Northern 3A. The Greenwave hosts Truckee on Friday at 7 p.m., preceded by the junior varsity.
With Fallon leading 15-0 going into the second quarter, Anderson, who started the season on the junior varsity, used his height to barrel into the end zone for Fallon’s third score. Quarterback Mathew Bird found Anderson open after taking the snap on a first down from the 29-yard line.
Anderson raced down the home side of the field and lunged for the end zone with 8:22 remaining before halftime. Bird’s extra point boot gave Fallon a comfortable 22-0 lead.
“Awesome,” Anderson said after the game about his performance. “I was confident I’d get the ball and scored.”
First-year coach Calvin Connors said the main emphasis so far this season has been running the ball. Part of that game plan changed Friday.
“We wanted to come out and pass the ball, and we did a great job with that tonight,” he said. “Bird had a lot of time out there (to pass) and a shout out to our linemen up front.”
Connors said the offensive line protected Fallon’s quarterback in one of their best games in the trenches this season.
The second score for the Fallon sophomore was even sweeter.
“I reached out to get it (the ball) into the end zone,” Anderson added.
Anderson’s second touchdown early in the third quarter resulted in a comfortable 36-0 lead with less than 4 minutes ticked off from the clock. Bird and Anderson, who led his defender by a few steps, hooked up for an 81-yard pass play down the left side and outraced the Sparks secondary. The extra-point kick started the running clock.
Both the Greenwave offense and defense didn’t waste time in controlling the Railroaders. On Fallon’s first possession after receiving the game-opening kickoff, the Wave began its drive on their own 20-yard line and marched the length of the field in five plays capped by Carson Melendy’s 42-yard run over right guard.
A snafu on the extra-point snap led to holder Colin Shishido throwing the ball to Barry Mitchell for a 2-point conversion with 10:13 left in the quarter.
Overall, Mitchell said Fallon needed to finish strong.
“We had to get the job done,” he said. “We struggled against South Tahoe (16-3 win on Sept. 13).”
Mitchell said he’s running his pass routes better and reading the ball well.
After Fallon’s defense menaced Railroaders’ quarterback Max Hendrix from the visitor’s second possession, the Wave took over and moved the ball 50 yards four plays. Running back Carson Melendy weaved from the line’s left since to score from the 11-yard line with 6:12 left in the quarter. Bird’s kick put Fallon on top 15-0 midway in the first quarter.
Fallon’s defense didn’t let up in the second quarter, causing the Railroaders to turn the ball over on downs. Fallon downed a Sparks punt kicked from deep inside its territory and took over on the visitor’s 48.
Bird kept the ball for a 15-yard quarterback keeper, and both Melendy and sophomore Rylan Clark twisted their bodies around the Sparks defense. On a first and goal from the 4, Bird rolled out to his left and found Wyatt Peek at the 4-yard line for the Greenwave’s fourth touchdown of the Homecoming game.
Peek also had a 65-yard punt return that resulted in a score.
Bird’s PAT with 1:57 before halftime pushed the Wave to a 29-0 lead.
Connors said he was pleased the Wave met its goal in the three phases of the game. The offense achieved its mark as did the defense, Connors said, especially Fallon made an interception, and Peek had the long punt return.
The Greenwave defense hunkered down for the final minutes before halftime and kept Sparks to 20 yards, all in the air.
Sparks didn’t break its scoreless streak until 10:28 of the fourth quarter when Hendrix threw a 7-yard strike to Aiden Garibay-Rogers. Kayden Hulet nailed the extra-point kick to cut Fallon’s lead to 36-7.
Fallon sputtered in its last possession after the Sparks touchdown although Urian Anaya Rios picked up 19 yards on the ground.