YC drinks from Mayor's Cup, again

In the brief three-year history of the Mayor's Cup game between the Yuba City and River Valley high school football teams, the series has been a one-sided affair — all in favor of Yuba City.

The Honkers broke open a close game in the second quarter with four touchdowns as they cruised to a 40-16 win over the cross-town rival Falcons at Honker Stadium.

The Honkers finished the season at 5-5 and 3-2 in Tri-County Conference play, just missing a playoff spot. Three of their losses came in the final minutes of the game.

For the Falcons, it was a disappointing loss to what had become a disappointing season. River Valley finished with a 1-4 league mark, 3-7 overall.

"We came out and pounded the football," said Honkers coach John Ithurburn. "We took advantage of our speed in Durrel Buchanen and played hard the whole way."

The Honkers moved the ball up and down the field on the ground all night, but when it came to getting it into the end zone, Yuba City went to the air. Quarterback Justin Crook threw four touchdown passes, two to Buchanen and one each to James Haymore and Jack Kirby.

River Valley had some success on the ground, but could never sustain any substantial drives until the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. The Falcons only completed two passes for 25 yards.

Dragos Simion was the workhorse for the Honkers. He rushed seven times on the Honkers' opening drive, including one for 30 yards to put the home team into a first-and-goal at the 8. Two plays later, on third down, Crook took a three-step drop and fired over the middle to Buchanen for the game's first score.

The score stayed 6-0 until early in the second quarter. When the Falcons were forced to punt at their own 36, the Honkers' Russell Williams broke through and blocked the kick. The ball bounced around in the backfield before John Bybee scooped it up and raced 28 yards for a touchdown. Crook converted the 2-point conversion to make it 14-0.

Then a successful onside kick gave the ball right back to the Honkers. Three plays produced just five yards. On fourth-down at the Falcon 44, Crook took a quick drop and threw to Haymore in the center of the field. Haymore pulled in the high pass and took off untouched for the score.

The Falcons then fumbled on their first play following the kickoff as their nightmare of a quarter continued.

From the River Valley 29, the Honkers marched on the ground in seven plays for their third touchdown of the period to up the score to 28-0. The big play was a fourth-down conversion by Simion. Crook took it into the end zone on a short 1-yard burst.

Following another Falcons punt, the Honkers once again went downfield with little resistance. River Valley did have an interception that appeared to have ended the drive, only to be flagged for roughing the passer.

The Honkers quickly took advantage four plays later as Crook hit Buchanen, using the same play they had scored with in the first quarter. This time, the play went for 12 yards and made the score 34-0. The score stayed that way until halftime.

River Valley was plagued by penalties all night, too. The Falcons had seven penalties called against them, and each one proved to be costly.

"We got most of the breaks tonight," Ithurburn said.

Yuba City took the second half kickoff and drove the field for their final touchdown. Simion contributed 47 yards on the ground, but in the end, it was Crook to Kirby from 14 yards out that capped off the drive.

The Falcons scored twice in the final quarter. Cody Miller, who rushed for 105 hard-fought yards, scored one touchdown with a 2-yard run. Jesus Chavez raced in from 23 yards out with 4 minutes for play for the Falcons' other score.

Simion finished as the game's leading rusher with 117 yards on 24 carries. Crook had five completions for 84 yards.