Manzano spoils PV's homecoming in 48-6 rout

• The Panthers had a punt blocked on their opening possession, and the Monarchs returned it for a score.
• PV's only score came on a 79-yard touchdown reception by Israel Gutierrez.
• The Panthers are at Cibola next week in their district opener.

FARMINGTON — The Piedra Vista football team was in for a long, draining homecoming battle tonight when it welcomed 6A juggernaut Manzano.

The Panther offense did very little, and the defense had no success in trying to neutralize the top-ranked Monarchs’ crafty and explosive offense, resulting in a 48-6 loss tonight at Hutchison Stadium.

"They're a lot faster than us, bigger than us. And they had a lot of moves," Panthers wide receiver Israel Gutierrez said.

PV went three-and-out on its opening possession, then had its punt blocked by Manzano defender Dion Morrow, who took the ball 30 yards for a score.

A short time later, after PV was unable to move the chains on its second possession, the Monarch offense went right to work. Manzano star quarterback Jordan Byrd, who already has made a verbal commitment to play college football at San Diego State University, and his offense had a field day.

From quick dump routes and trick plays to its ground-and-pound running attack, the Monarchs ran all over the Panthers.

"They run a lot of different pulls and different schemes. They moved really fast and ran good things," PV linebacker Jalon Martinez said.

The running clock was turned on with 1:36 left in the third quarter. Byrd crossed the goal line on a 9-yard quarterback keeper, and Manzano wideout Andrew Erickson snagged the ball in the left corner of the end zone for the 2-point conversion to increase the visitors' lead to 41-6.

That possession marked the beginning of the end of a rough night for the Panthers.

The only offense PV mustered was when Gutierrez broke free up the middle for a 79-yard touchdown reception with 5:26 left in the third quarter.

"I started running, and I didn't look back. I didn't want anyone catching me," Gutierrez said.

Manzano generated 443 total yards of offense, whereas PV had just 176 total yards of offense.

PV (3-3) will open District 1-6A play at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at Cibola, while Manzano (6-0) plays host to La Cueva at 7 that same night to start District 2-6A action.

Friday's local prep football scores

Manzano 48, Piedra Vista 6

Kirtland Central 50, Shiprock 0

Aztec 54, Española Valley 12

Roswell 44, Farmington 16

Navajo Prep 28, Whitehorse, Utah, 0

Bloomfield 41, Valencia 16

Hannah Grover contributed to this story.

Matt Hollinshead covers sports for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4577.