Spartans set the tone

It took all of 16 seconds for Josh Wilson to sour Colusa High's homecoming.

East Nicolaus' defense down right spoiled it.

Wilson returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and the Spartans' hit-happy mentality ruled the evening as East Nicolaus downed the injury-riddled Redskins 24-13 in Mid-Valley League action on Friday night.

"We've been (other team's) homecoming a couple times this year and it was nice to wreck a homecoming," Spartans coach Mark Varnum said jokingly.

Still, a win like this had the coach fired up after the game, especially after being shellacked last week at Portola, 68-0.

This time, Wilson took the first possible opportunity to ensure the Spartans wouldn't be shutout.

After faking a reverse, Wilson sliced through the middle of the field untouched, crossed over to the left sideline and flew past a stunned Colusa squad.

"Coming off last week that's what we needed, a perfect remedy." Varnum said.

As for the defense, East Nicolaus held Colusa to 61 first half yards and forced a pair of fumbles on a Redskin offense that was without it's top-two running backs. Colusa entered the game with 19 players, a number that would become 18 before the end of the game.

"We need to go to 8-man football," Colusa coach Bob Miller quipped.

While Wilson's touchdown was frustrating for the Redskins, it was only the beginning. After the Spartans converted the 2-point conversion, Colusa proceeded to lose a fumble at midfield and have lineman Christian Bassett go down hard - all in the first two minutes.

Bassett, who was hit under the chin, laid conscious and motionless at midfield for more than 10 minutes while under the care of fire department personnel. He would eventually be immobilized and taken away by ambulance.

After the game, Colusa coach Bob Miller said a CAT scan was negative and that the junior was OK.

After the injury timeout, Colusa (4-3, 2-2) couldn't stop East Nicolaus. The Spartans converted a pair of fourth downs en route to a 1-yard touchdown run by Alex Cundiff, who was the Spartans first half horse, carrying the ball for 56 yards in the first two quarters.

East Nicolaus (5-2, 3-1) added their final score off a 5-yard Kevin Logsdon run that capped a clock devouring, 72-yard drive.

While Colusa found the end zone twice, it wasn't too much of a knock on the Spartans' defense. Both scores were set up by punting problems, including a big block from Dylan McPherson that gave Colusa the ball at the two.

The Redskins' Dylan Boggs scored on a 5-yard run after Colusa inherited the ball on the opposing 12 and Darren Smith ran in the touchdown after McPherson's block.

Smith was one of the lone bright spots for Colusa's offense, finishing with 115 yards, most of which came off a 62-yard run that would have been a touchdown if not for an illegal block in the back 12-yards from the goal line.

"Offense — not bad, D — great job, special team's — needs some work," Varnum said to his players after the game.