Quincy eliminates Othello in CWAC district tournament

QUINCY — The Quincy Jacks scored more goals in the first half than the previous two meetings combined, eliminating Othello from the district tournament with a 7-2 decision Saturday afternoon. Francisco Alejandrez scored in the fifth minute and Kevin Rios followed with another goal three minutes later to send the Huskies (10-7) staggering into the ropes eight minutes into the first-round match of the district tournament.

Fredy Ruiz sliced through the Othello defenders to drive a beautifully timed header past Husky goaltender Jose Chairez in the 25th minute. Quincy (11-3-3) went for the knockout with two more goals by Rios and Axel Medina in the final minute of the first half. The previous meetings during the regular season were one-goal differentials. Despite the seven-goal barrage, Othello coach Bernie Garza said the first eight minutes set the tone on Saturday. “The deciding factor was the first two goals,” Garza said. “That just put us on our heels the rest of the game. After that, we were just playing catch up.” There was no catching the Jacks, who scored seven goals with 12 shots on goal. Quincy goalkeeper Johan Farias went pretty much unchallenged and finished with four stops on five Othello shots. “I told them this was not going to be our last game,” Quincy coach Arturo Guerrero said. “We still have a lot more season to go. They came out and stepped up and played incredible.” Alejandrez agreed.

“The motivation of the team was better today. We have 12 seniors and we wanted to keep playing in the tournament,” the senior striker said. “When we scored those two goals at the end of the first half, their game went down and ours went up. The second half was fun because we kept on the attack and played with discipline.” The Jacks turned loose the dogs in the final 40 minutes. Danny Cruz played on the junior varsity during the regular season, but made the best of his time playing with the varsity on Saturday. He scored twice in the second half, including a beautiful header on a rebound that bounced off Chairez’s hands in the box in the 61st minute. “I was nervous, this being my first game with the varsity,” Cruz said. “It’s nice to come in and contribute. On that second goal, I was just there. That’s why you follow it all the way in because you never know what’s going to happen.”

When the dust finally settled, the Jacks got two goals from the kid and 12 seniors played like there was no tomorrow. Alejandrez finished with one goal and two assists, including a great right-footed bender to a streaking Ruiz for the header goal. Rios finished up with two goals, including one inside the final minute of the first half to make it 4-1. “I have a lot of senior friends here and we came to win today,” said Rios, a junior defender. “This is like my family and I didn’t want it to be my last game with them. When we scored those goals right at the end of the first half, I thought we were capable of scoring more. Othello came out strong, but when we scored like that they put their heads down and that’s what killed them.” Othello finished up the year with a 10-win season. The Huskies got goals from Reese Jones and Bernie Garza Jr. The Jacks move on to the second round to face top-seeded Toppenish (11-4) on Tuesday. Grandview, who defeated Ellensburg 4-1, will meet No. 2 East Valley in the other second-round match.