GameNight: Thunder roll over Yuma on homecoming, 63-0

Using a balanced rushing attack, Phoenix Desert Vista scored on nine of its 11 possessions and cruised to a 63-0 nonregion win over Yuma on Friday night at DV.

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With starting running back Marcus Washington and his backup Anthony Kereluk in street clothes on the sideline, the Thunder (5-2) used three backs and quarterback Cody Sokol in amassing 207 yards rushing on just 14 carries at halftime, and 402 for the game.

"I think we've got our offense rolling," Sokol said. "Now, we've just got to put it together when we get into region and really show what we're about, what kind of team we are."

He spread it around to five receivers on the night but his favorite target was senior Casey Bolena, who caught four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns, including a diving score in the second quarter that put DV up 42-0.

"We're making a good team right now," Bolena said.

Junior Anders Battle led the Thunder with 123 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and also caught a 30-yard score. Senior B.J. Wilson added 116 yards on seven carries, including two touchdowns, and fellow senior Austin Caswell had five carries for 69 yards and two touchdowns.

"We wanted to come out tonight and just work our offense and work parts of our game that we need to get better at," said DV coach Dan Hinds. "We did that."

Junior J.C. Baker had 103 yards rushing for the Criminals, who lost their sixth-consecutive game to drop to 2-6.

The Thunder defense forced four turnovers -- recovering two fumbles and picking off two passes -- in carding its second shutout of the season. Hinds said his team would need more of the same when it opens Central Region play next week at Chandler Basha.

"Defense, we've really been able to count on them to pull through for us and they've helped us win some close games," Hinds said. "We're really going to need them going into region play. I know that those guys will continue to do that."