Huskies kick off first game since 2008 with a win

Tyler Wormhoudt celebrates a Husky win over L.A. Baptist (Photos: Lunch)

Mammoth Huskies 6
L.A. Baptist Knights 3

Sophomore QB Tyler Wormhoudt scored on a naked five-yard bootleg with 3:55 remaining, leading the Mammoth Huskies to a 6-3 victory in their season opener Saturday.

Wormhoudt followed it up minutes later with an interception to kill L.A. Baptist’s final drive.

The game was the first official game for the Huskies since the 2008 season. Last year’s season was cancelled due to a lack of players. But then, longtime Coach Tom Gault was lured out of retirement and, well, Gault has a way of getting the kids to play for him.

In a battle of wills, fumbles and penalties on a warm, bright September day, it was the 18-man Husky squad that outbattled its bigger, deeper opponent.

After the Knights went ahead on a 42-yard field goal with 11 minutes remaining, the Huskies took the ensuing kickoff and marched 60 yards for the go-ahead score.

After gaining a 1st down inside the ten, however, the drive appeared to stall. RB Coco Galvan was thrown for a loss on a toss play and the next inside handoff only gained a couple yards. On 3rd and goal from the five, Mammoth called timeout.

According to Offensive Coordinator Marty Thompson, Wormhoudt came to the sideline and said the Knights were stacking it up inside.

So go outside, was Thompson’s reply.

Wormhoudt went outside for the touchdown that gave the Mammoth Huskies the win in their season opener.

Which Wormhoudt did on the next play, sending the rest of the team right while he scampered left, beating the defender to the pylon for six.

The Husky touchdown ended a long day of frustration inside the red zone for Mammoth.

In the first half, two consecutive holding penalties negated a 1st and goal for the Huskies. The ensuing field goal attempt was nixed by a poor snap.

In the 3rd quarter, the Huskies had 1st and goal from the two when Wormhoudt fumbled the snap, but recovered. On second down, he wasn’t so lucky, as a fumbled exchange between Wormhoudt and Galvan was recovered by the Knights.