Wilson Beats Cathedral, Ends Streak

Wilson High defeated Cathedral, 28-7, Friday night, ending a five-game losing streak dating to the seventh game of the 1993 season. Past defeats, however, were not on quarterback Eddie Gonzalez’ mind during the intersectional game at Wilson High.

“The only motivation I had was that if we lost to these guys it would be embarrassing when we start school on Monday,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez, the area’s leading passer last season with 1,623 yards, can rest on his laurels at least for the first week of school after completing five of seven passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

Gonzalez’s first-half performance, however, wouldn’t have won the 5-foot-8, 155-pound senior any popularity contests at Wilson. He completed just one of three passes for six yards and threw a second-quarter interception, which helped give Cathedral a 7-6 lead.

But the Phantoms’ lead was short-lived, thanks to a 61-yard touchdown run by Arlin Slayton that put the Mules ahead for good, 14-6, with three minutes before halftime.

“Our strategy was to run on them and wear their defense out and then pass on them,” Slayton said.

Slayton scored Wilson’s first touchdown on a three-yard run in the first quarter and finished with a career-high 125 yards in 13 carries. The 5-11, 180-pound junior running back accounted for 94 of Wilson’s 103 first-half yards and also had a 45-yard reception.

The second-half belonged to Gonzalez. He combined with Luis Sanchez on a 23-yard touchdown pass to culminate a 65-yard drive on the Mules’ first possession of the third quarter.

Gonzalez connected with Sanchez again midway through the fourth quarter on a 24-yard scoring pass, capping a 95-yard, 14-play drive which consumed nearly eight minutes. Sanchez had three catches for 67 yards.

“I had butterflies playing in the first game of the season,” Gonzalez said. “I had to fight to get in the groove and find my rhythm. Then everything was boom, boom, boom.”

Omar Garnett, who scored Cathedral’s only touchdown on a 31-yard run, rushed for 105 yards in 10 carries. The Phantoms managed only six yards passing.

Wilson lineman Anthony Rodriguez had two sacks for 31 yards and linebacker Michael McClendon had an interception to set up the Mules’ first score.

W--Slayton 3 run (kick failed)

C--Garnett 31 run (Barragan kick)

W--Slayton 61 run (Gonzalez run)

W--Sanchez 23 pass from Gonzalez (kick failed)

W--Sanchez 24 pass from Gonzalez (Bradley pass from Gonzalez)

Records: Wilson 1-0; Cathedral 0-1.

Next week: Monroe at Wilson; Cathedral at Lincoln.