The senior girls suiting up for this historic first season of competitive girls flag football at Escalon High School got to enjoy a special night this past week.
Parents pulled together a ‘Senior Night’ program for the girls, recognized by their families and friends for their efforts during this inaugural season on the gridiron.
The recognition came as part of the Tuesday night, Sept. 19 non-league contest against Ceres.
Seniors saluted, by order of their jersey number, were: Ashley Titsworth, 1; Isabeli Velazquez, 3; Raya McNulty, 4; Sammy Lang, 5; Cali Granis, 6; Valentina Ramirez, 7; Hannah Wampler, 8; Alyssa Ball, 9; Saraii Correa, 10. Also, Andrea Fuentes Calderson, 12; Aileen Aguirre, 13; Grace Spurgeon, 15; Zoey Baracosa, 17; Shelby Wilder, 19; Chloe Farley, 20; and Violette Kent, 40.
Steve Largent is head coach for the varsity team, assistant coach is Steve Riesenbeck and Joseph Dalpogetti serves as the JV coach.
The varsity flag football squad started the busy week hosting Central Catholic and held off the Lady Raiders, 14-6.
We didn’t play our best game,” Largent said of the Sept. 18 game, but was happy to get the win.
Then it was the Senior Night game against Ceres.
“Despite losing 25-16, it was really a great setting … Senior parents orchestrated a ceremony for the senior girls before the game with personalized posters for the girls,” Largent explained. “After the game we had a gathering at a local pizza parlor which was full of laughs and smiles and memories being made.”
Thursday, the girls jumped back into action, traveling to face off with the same Ceres team they lost to on Tuesday, but this time it was classified as a Western Athletic Conference contest.
“We started out so well and played a great 20 minutes,” Largent said of the first half. “Violette Kent and Sammy Lang both scored on the ground and we had a 12-0 lead at halftime.”
Unfortunately, Largent added, they couldn’t hold on to that lead as Ceres moved ahead, 14-12.
“We had a shot from 6-yard line with one untimed down,” the coach explained. “Ceres made the goal line stand and we fell just short.”
The final score was Ceres 14, Escalon 12.
“It was a wild finish and we certainly had our chances but we made pivotal mistakes and Ceres capitalized on them,” Largent said. “The parent support after the loss Thursday was incredible.”
JV
The junior varsity team put together a winning week, going 3-0.
“We played Orestimba on Monday and we beat them 14-0,” said head coach Joseph Dalpogetti. “On Tuesday we hosted Ceres in the non-conference match up with them in the second (game) of our back-to-back; we won 28-0.”
Thursday, the girls traveled to Ceres and played them again, this time in WAC action, and came away with a 14-6 win.
“Defensively, linebackers Reagan Baker and Natalee Martinez had great games all week,” Dalpogetti said. “Tyli Holback scored on a 60-yard run to ice the second game against Ceres from her quarterback position.”
The JV squad improved to 8-1 overall.
“Our date with Orestimba is the only confirmed JV contest left,” the coach said of an Oct. 12 contest on the road in Newman, “whereas varsity has five more conference games before playoffs.”
