The Sand Devils improved to 4-2 after a 46-6 victory over Ganado Friday night.

Neither team played particularly well during the first half, with both teams making many mental mistakes and accruing numerous penalties. The first half did have a few bright spots, including a 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyree Stingley. Vance Gardner kicked the point after.

Sand Devils head football coach Leland “Bubba” Billie got his team re-focused during halftime. They came out of the locker room ready to play, and they played well on both sides of the ball.

Landon Mansker, Tyree Stingley, Aidan Nix, Joseph Benally and Connor Peterson have been the big playmakers for the Sand Devils this season, and that group came through again in the second half against the Hornets.

Mansker got things started in the second half with a 50-yard kickoff return. The offense wasted no time taking advantage of its great field position and quickly found its way into the endzone again. 

The Sand Devils’ next three possessions resulted in a touchdown reception from Stingley, then Mansker, then Stingley again, giving Page a 31-0 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The game’s announcer wasn’t yet finished calling Stingley’s name. In the fourth quarter, Stingley, who plays in the Sand Devils secondary on defense, scored the game’s final touchdown. It came when Page’s defensive line stuffed the Hornets quarterback in the backfield. Stingley swept in and wrestled the ball out of the quarterback’s hands and ran it 20 yards into the endzone.

The game’s final score read Sand Devils 46, Ganado 6.

Coach Billie acknowledged that his playmakers – Stingley, Mansker, Peterson, Nix and Benally – had great games but was also quick to point out the great performance from both his lines. 

“Our offense starts with our center, Dakarai Black. He’s our leader up front,” Billie said. “Then our guards Hunter Billah and Ian Yellowhair, and our tackles Lewis Tate and Talon Herder, do a great job protecting our quarterback on passes and opening lanes for our runningbacks.”

“They were the ones we made adjustments at halftime and that really turned the game around,” Billie said. “Coach Bennett and Coach Smith changed blocking schemes to get our offense flowing in the second half.”

Billie also gave credit to Coach T, who is the Sand Devils’ new defensive coordinator.

“Coach T has had our defense playing great all year,” Billie said.     

The football team travels to Window Rock this Friday. Billie expects it to be a tough game.     

“They are a physical team. It’s also a tough environment to play in,” he said. “They pack the house. We can’t have a slow start going into Window Rock or things could get ugly.”