Lewis lifts Desert Shields in overtime victory

When it comes to the Cheyenne offense, it typically starts and ends with senior running back Myloe Lewis, the area’s leading rusher heading into Friday’s I-A Sunset League showdown with visiting Mojave.

Lewis didn’t disappoint, scoring all his team’s points on his way to a game-high 128 yards on 28 carries.

Though Lewis commanded the offense, it was the Cheyenne defense that made the night’s biggest play. Stopping Mojave quarterback Zack Arave short of the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt in overtime, the defense propelled the Desert Shields to a hard-fought 20-18 victory.

The win also gave Cheyenne sole possession of first place in the the Sunset, which seemed unlikely after the opening period. Cheyenne gained just 29 yards and trailed 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.

“It took us a bit to get going tonight,” said the Desert Shields’ coach David Cochran. “Mojave is getting better and better every year. It wouldn’t surprise me if we saw them again down the road.”

Mojave (3-4, 2-1) trimmed the deficit to two points in overtime, as Arave hit Tyreek Carter on a 15-yard pass play on third-and-goal.

However, after a timeout, the Rattlers called the play for Arave to make carry the ball and the Desert Shields subsequently made the stop.

“We knew they were going to run that quarterback draw,” said Cochran. “Our defensive front shot the right gap, and made the play. It was a fight from the beginning between two teams that played hard.”

Down by six points, Cheyenne (5-2, 3-0) dominated the second quarter holding the ball for over eight minutes. Lewis had a pair of touchdown runs  of two and seven yards to give the Desert Shields a 12-6 lead at the half.

After gaining 96 yards in the first quarter, Mojave was held to minus two yards in the second.

But it was the Rattler defense that made a big play early in the third quarter, as Lewis fumbled at the Mojave 18 and Lorenzon Guerrero raced 58 yards to the Cheyenne 24. Four plays later, Arave hit Murphy for a 20-yard score, tying the game at 12.

Lewis scored three plays into overtime from a yard out, and his two-point conversion gave Cheyenne a 20-12 cushion.

Arave completed 9 of 15 passes for 115 yards for Mojave, which had just 59 yards on the ground.
Cheyenne rushed for 242 yards.