Chargers defend with gang tackles: Finn Weeks (49) and Jordan Halpern (81) close in on the Bronco runner from the left while Michael Burke (23), Jake Gammon (19) and Mason Cohen (55) converge from the right. Trailing the play are Alex Naqvi (2) and Max Harrod (44). SportsDashboards photo
In that game, the Broncos ran off to a 37-6 victory after leading at the half 14-6.
In this game, the score was 8-0 until midway through the fourth quarter. The Chargers made some adjustments on defense that kept the Broncos in check: they recognized that arm tackling and one-on-one tackles were not effective against hard running backs, so they resorted to an aggressive defense that featured gang tackling to bring down the Broncos runners.
The game did not have an auspicious start for the Chargers. The Broncos took the opening kickoff and scored four plays a later. Jake Gammon and Riley Silveira seemed to have the Broncos stalled, but a sweep resulted in a long touchdown run.
The Chargers appeared ready to strike back. Vaughan Zerbe passed to Michael Burke to move the ball near midfield. Ryan Anderson carried twice to move the ball into Bronco territory and Zerbe ran for another first down. Zerbe found Kiva Corshen for 6 yards, but the Chargers were forced to punt, with the ball rolling dead on the 10 yard line.
Moving the ball: Michael Burke (23) takes in a pass from Vaughan Zerbe. Alex Murray (80) and Avery Williams (31) trail the play. SportsDashboards photo
Burke and Cole Raskowsky drilled a Bronco runner on the first play after the change of possession. Ryan Anderson, Silveira and Halpern brought down a Bronco after a 10-yard gain. Silveira put his own personal stamp on this series of downs, twice breaking up passes. Between the two failed pass attempts, Dylan Bottomsley and Max Harrod sacked the quarterback.
The half ended with the score 8-0.
The Chargers could do nothing with the first possession of the second half and punted to the Broncos at the 29 yard line. The Broncos ran off 10 plays without scoring. Cohen and Silveira each were involved in three tackles. Burke dropped a runner for a 2-yard loss. Ryan Anderson and Halpern ganged up to stop the next runner for another 2-yard loss. Jakari Anderson pressured the quarterback who threw the ball away. Zerbe put pressure on the quarterback on fourth down and forced the Bronco into the arms of Harrod.
Defensive star: Riley Silveira (25) tracks a Bronco runner. He made the Bronco offense miserable all day. That's Jakari Anderson (27) behind him. SportsDashboards photo
The Broncos then went on a 9-play drive for the clinching touchdown, despite the efforts of Silveira, who was involved in no less than 5 tackles during the drive.
The Chargers constructed one more drive after the kickoff. After a 10-yard penalty, Zerbe passed to Robert Simkins for 21 yards and a first down. Halpern raced 18 yards and a Bronco infraction put the ball on the 10 yard line with a first down. The Chargers could not move the ball and surrendered it on downs at the 10 yard line.
On the second play, the Chargers forced a fumble that was recovered by Gammon, giving the Chargers one last scoring chance with the ball on the 6 yard line. But an intercepted pass ended the threat.
All of the Chargers played improved defense, but Silveira stood alone as the chief Bronco tormentor.
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Tags: Central Marin Chargers
