Cheyenne tries to keep ball, hand Legacy loss

Six turnovers derailed any chance Cheyenne had to win its last game against a top-10 team.

The Desert Shields hope to prove they’ve learned their lesson in today’s 7 p.m. game at sixth-ranked Legacy (6-0, 3-0 Northwest League).

“We learned we’ve got to hold onto the ball,” fullback Ronnie Green said. “We’ve got to stay strong through the whole game instead of getting hyped up for the first half and then letting it die down because you’re losing by like 12 points.”

Cheyenne coach Charles Anthony said the six turnovers his team committed in a 25-0 loss to Palo Verde on Sept. 19 were somewhat of a fluke but showed his players the importance of ball security.

“I don’t think we’ve had a fumble since we played Palo,” Anthony said. “Before we played Palo, I think we might have had one. It was just one of those deals where it was contagious and everybody started dropping the ball. But the kids took something from it and learned from it.”

Aside from the loss to Palo Verde, the third-ranked Desert Shields (5-1, 2-1) have rolled, outscoring their other five opponents 261-21.

Offensively, no team can match Cheyenne’s depth at running back. Three players topped 100 yards last week, and a fourth had 81.

Marcus Sullivan has been the biggest threat with a team-high 877 yards, averaging 15.7 yards per carry.

But he’s far from the only weapon. Jordan Butler and Donnel Thompson each have 339 rushing yards, Green has rushed for 266 and Terrence Brison 259.

Thompson averages 10.6 yards per carry and Green 11.4.

“They’ve got to come ready,” Green said. “We’ve got some talented backs here. They’ve got to come ready to stop us.”

The Desert Shields will need to be ready to stop Legacy’s two-headed rushing attack, as well.

The Longhorns feature the area’s leading rusher in Deshae Edwards (1,016 yards, 12 touchdowns). And 215-pound fullback Prince Oroke (744 yards, seven TDs) is a powerful inside rusher.

“They try to run it down your throat,” Green said. “They run the 'I’ very well.”

Legacy’s defense hasn’t been as strong as Cheyenne’s, but the Longhorns still have allowed just 77 points this season.

“On defense they’ve got some cool players and stuff. They’re making big hits,” Green said. “They’re not 6-0 for no reason.”