The lower levels of Cougar football had a solid week. The JV boys took a 49-14 win on Friday night, Aug. 19 at Damonte Ranch in Reno while the freshmen, in their first game as Cougars, defeated visiting Enochs 27-8 on Thursday, Aug. 18.
For the JV team, they went into the locker room tied 14-14 with the host Damonte Ranch Mustangs on Friday, but roared into the second half and outscored the host school 35-0 over the final two quarters.
“Our coaching staff was really happy the way our team finished the game in the second half,” said head JV coach Brant Rose. “We talked with the team during the week that the Escalon style of play is known to wear on teams, and the boys put that on display during this game in the second half.”
Damonte Ranch scored on their opening drive on the kickoff for an early 7-6 lead in the first quarter but the JV team responded with a touchdown pass from Logan Huebner to Sam Jimenez. The point after was no good, so the Cougars were down 7-6. Huebner and Jimenez accounted for another touchdown in the second quarter, with the 2-point conversion good, for a 14-7 lead, then Damonte Ranch scored late to knot the score at 14 all at the half.
In the second half, the JV Cougars got two rushing touchdowns from Kyrin Barajas, one from Dominic Arauza, Noah Gutierrez picked up a punt that was blocked by Preston Berhorst and returned it for the score and Alex Jones added a rushing touchdown as well for the lopsided 49-14 final.
FRESHMEN
With a good-sized crowd in the stands, the youngest Cougars opened up their season on a positive note on Thursday, Aug. 18. They hosted the Enochs Eagles and crafted a 27-8 win.
“Touchdowns were by Jeremey Grivette, Kamari Castro, Ben Gonzalez scored twice, including one kickoff return for a touchdown,” said head coach Joey Costa. “Bryce Vallee was 3-for-4 on extra points.”
The well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball also saw Gonzalez, Castro and Mason Haverkamp pull down interceptions. The freshmen recovered three Enochs fumbles on the way to the win.
“Our starting defense gave up no scoring and our defensive standouts were Logan Wentzell, Lorenzo Teixeira and Kamari Castro,” Costa added. “We play at Lodi this Thursday.”
