It was a record-breaking night for running back Zach Zuniga and the Vintage Crushers, who got their first win of the 2009 high school football season.

Zuniga, a junior, set school records with eight touchdowns and 375 yards rushing as Vintage also set school records for most points in a game, beating Armijo, 80-56, in a Monticello Empire League shootout at Napa Memorial Stadium.

The win was cause for celebration afterward and gives Vintage (1-8 overall, 1-3 MEL) momentum going into the annual Big Game against Napa on Nov. 13.

Zuniga scored on runs of 28, 7, 86, 3, 3, 6 and 16 yards that sparked Vintage’s spread offense as the Crushers ended an eight-game losing streak.

Zuniga also caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Maher and had a pair of two-point conversion runs as he accounted for 52 total points in one of the single-greatest performances by a Napa Valley athlete.

Zuniga broke Conrad Alvarez’s school records for touchdowns (6) and yards rushing (330) in a game, set back in 1997. Zuniga is learning from one of the all-time greats, as Alvarez is the Crushers’ running backs coach.

“It was a great night for our offense. It was a great night for Zach Zuniga,” said Vintage coach Billy Smith. “He ran really hard. I’m very proud of him. I think the happiest guy here was coach Alvarez, because (Zuniga) broke a couple of his records.

“Offensively, we were able to move the ball. I’m just glad to get a victory. I’m glad these seniors got a victory. Our kids are excited. We waited a long time for this. They’re going to enjoy this game tonight.”

It was the best that Vintage has looked all year, not just on offense, but also defensively and on special teams. Zuniga had 441 yards of total offense.

Coming into the game, Vintage had scored just 76 points through eight games. Last night, the Crushers were tied with Armijo (2-7 overall, 0-4 MEL) 30-30 at the end of the first quarter, but scored an additional five touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 65-43 lead at halftime.

It was a match-up of winless teams in the MEL, but Vintage and Armijo showed great heart and character with terrific individual and team play.

“We came out fighting and never gave up,” said Zuniga. “I feel great. I want to just keep running the ball.”

The way Zuniga is going, he should expect to get a lot of carries when Napa and Vintage collide in Big Game XXXVIII to conclude the regular season. Last week, he ran for 111 yards on 21 carries in a loss to Vacaville.

Jeff Carruth returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, Reed Huddleston returned an interception 45 yards for a score, and John Szekely ran one yard for a TD for Vintage, which led 73-49 after the third quarter.

Vintage turned the ball over four times, all on fumbles, and Armijo had five turnovers, three on interceptions and two on fumbles.

Malachi Kuidis ran for 190 yards and four touchdowns for Armijo. Brian Wilson passed for 284 yards and two TDs.

The Crushers had several big plays on offense while putting pressure on Wilson.