The Northgate defense not only kept Mt. Diablo off the scoreboard on Friday night, but the Broncos' unit made their own contributions to the final score, reaching the end zone on a fumble return and an interception return during a 46-0 win to open DAL-Valley Division action.
Senior Eric Prough was the first defensive player to reach the end zone, scooping a fumble caused by Andrew Daigle and scoring midway through the second quarter. It was Prough's second fumble recovery of the game and put the game well out of reach just 18 minutes into the contest, as Northgate led 33-0 at that point. When Robby Keyser picked off a tipped pass on the next Mt. Diablo possession and returned it over 50 yards for another touchdown, the outcome was well in hand.
Northgate (3-1, 1-0 DAL-Valley) took less than two minutes to reach the end zone in the first quarter, as quarterback Jackson Malakoff scored on a 20-yard keeper to finish the first drive of the game. Less than three minutes later, after a Red Devils' punt, Kevin Krueger reached the end zone for a quick 13-0 lead. Junior quarterback Joe Fulp got his turn on the next Northgate possession, and marched the team back down the field, capped by a Max Berrien touchdown run for a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Malakoff came back in on the next Bronco possession, following Prough's first fumble recovery, and his short screen pass to Nathan Wu turned into a 35-yard catch-and-run for a 26-0 advantage with 8:02 left in the second quarter.
Northgate will host College Park on Friday night, while Mt. Diablo (1-4, 0-1) heads to Ygnacio Valley on Friday night.
