A three-game stretch of preseason contests is over … and the 2024 edition of the Escalon varsity football Cougars takes the home field Friday night to start off what promises to be a grueling Trans-Valley League campaign.
“There has been so much talk for a year about how tough this new Trans-Valley League will be,” Escalon varsity head coach and Athletic Director Andrew Beam said, noting especially the addition of Sonora, winner of several straight Mother Lode League titles.
Escalon went 1-2 during the preseason, the two losses coming on a total of three points. They lost the opener on the road at Vacaville, 23-21, and then came back to beat Golden Valley of Merced in a home game at Escalon, 25-9. Finally, they lost a hard-fought battle at Engel Field to Oakdale, 21-20, on Sept. 6. They had a bye on Sept. 13.
“They’re extremely talented,” Beam said of the Sonora Wildcats, who went 3-0 in the preseason, including a comeback win against Oakdale.
“They were down 21-10 with 10 minutes to go in the game and they ended up beating Oakdale 31-21,” Beam pointed out of Sonora.
The TVL opener for both teams is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Engel Field on Sept. 20; a crucial early match up for each squad.
“I’m sure they remember the last time they played us,” Beam said. “They’ll definitely be looking for some revenge.”
The last time the teams met, it was in a Sac-Joaquin Section title game at St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, with Escalon winning the back-and-forth contest by a 35-34 final in November, 2022.
Now, Sonora comes in as one of the favorites to capture the TVL title, and would like nothing better than to dethrone the defending league champion Cougars.
“We need to be more consistent on offense,” Beam said of his team. “The defense right now keeps us in the game but we’re hoping with an extra week of practice we can find some rhythm on offense.”
It’s likely to be a packed house at Engel Field for the Friday night contests, which start with the JV game at 5 p.m.
Beam said with a big crowd on both sides, the players on the field will need to stay focused on the task at hand.
“When you play Sonora, you have to take advantage of any opportunities,” he said, adding that the Wildcats don’t make many mistakes, so Escalon will have to be ready when they do.
Part of the trouble for the team so far this season has been finishing drives, hurting themselves with penalties that make it harder for the offense to be successful.
“We’ve got to find a way to finish it, to close it out,” Beam said.
And while it was a neutral field the last time the squads played each other, the coach said he’s hoping the home field might provide a little edge for the Cougars.
“At least we get the game in front of our home crowd,” he said.
