Kickoff return TD helps spark Cimarron win

Arbor View coach Dan Barnson told his players they’d have to score on special teams Friday night to beat Cimarron-
Memorial.

The Aggies didn’t, the Spartans did and the score turned out to be the difference in Cimarron’s 26-19 road victory.

The unranked Spartans (3-2, 2-0 Northwest) spoiled homecoming for Arbor View and also dealt the fifth-ranked Aggies (4-1, 1-1) their first loss of the season.

After DeMarlo Virgil scored on a 33-yard touchdown run to give Arbor View a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter, Cimarron-Memorial’s James Poole returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a score to knot things 7-7.

Another turning point took place later in the second quarter when the Aggies forced the Spartans to punt from midfield. Officials ruled the ball hit Arbor View’s Gabe Toney in the foot and Cimarron-Memorial recovered at the 17.

Three plays later, Stephen Nixon took it in from two yards out to give the Spartans a 13-7 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“All I saw was rubber flying off from the turf,” Barnson said, indicating he didn’t think the ball hit his player. “And that ends up being the difference (in the game). That’s tough.”

Cimarron-Memorial scored on its first two possessions of the second half — on a 36-yard TD run by Zach Barbara (23 carries, 165 yards) and 1-yard quarterback sneak by Cody Clark — to take a 26-7 lead.

But Arbor View, which outgained the Spartans 373 yards to 260, answered with two TDs of its own to pull within 26-19 midway through the fourth quarter.

Taylor Wooten (21 carries, 169 yards) scored on a 9-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter and then sprinted 52 yards for a score on the Aggies’ next possession.