The young Escalon Cougar football squads both found themselves in the win column this week, as the JV football team got the victory at home and the freshmen were on the road, also picking up a win.
Both teams squared off against the Golden Valley Cougars, out of Merced.
JUNIOR VARSITY
It was a 28-0 shutout for Escalon’s JV boys, but the game was a little unusual, as the visiting JV team was late in arriving due to transportation issues.
“We controlled this game on both sides of the ball from start to finish,” said head coach Brant Rose. “It was a fast paced and strange game with the officials deciding for a running clock all four quarters because Golden Valley arrived late and we didn’t kick off until an hour past schedule.”
But those factors didn’t seem to affect Escalon, as the JV Cougars scored in three of four quarters, with a 21-0 lead built up at the half.
K’Oz Castro got them on the board in the first quarter on a one-yard rushing play, with Carson Criteser adding the point after for the early 7-0 lead.
Carter Yates then made his presence felt, returning a Golden Valley punt 55 yards for the touchdown. With the Criteser kick, it was 14-0.
Later in the quarter, Yates scored on a 34-yard rushing play, Criteser put the extra point through the uprights and the host JV Cougars enjoyed a 21-0 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, it was quarterback Ethan Butler connecting on a 31-yard pass play to Ian Trejo; Criteser added the point after for the 28-0 advantage. That score would hold up through the end of the contest.
“We scored on every possession and our defense only allowed Golden Valley into the red zone on one possession, which ended in K’Oz Castro forcing a fumble that Escalon recovered,” Rose explained. “It was a convincing win that we hope to build momentum on as we head into possibly the most difficult stretch of our schedule starting with a stout Oakdale team.”
The JV boys will host Oakdale on Friday, Sept. 6 with a 5 p.m. kickoff.
FRESHMEN
Earning a shutout win on the road, the freshman football team traveled to Merced on Thursday, Aug. 29 and faced off with the Golden Valley Cougars. But it was the Escalon frosh Cougars gaining the upper hand in a 21-0 victory.
Scoring came on a touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Ferreira to Ryan Looney that gave the visiting freshmen a 7-0 lead in the first half.
“Jake had a very big day; he even scored two touchdowns that were called back,” said coach Joey Costa.
But he did have a couple of scores they didn’t take back, returning the second half kickoff to the end zone for a touchdown. He also then was able to get a ‘scoop and score’ touchdown on a forced fumble by the Escalon defense. He also took in the 2-point conversion that put his team up by a 21-0 edge.
Leaders on the defensive side, said Costa, were Juan ‘Danny’ Sanchez, Jacob Morales and Rider Ibarra, who had an interception in the fourth quarter. George Harding had a sack.
“On offense, Dylan Machado had 100 yards in pass receptions and running, and Ferreira had a very good game,” Costa noted.
The freshmen continue their road trip this week, as they head to Oakdale for a 6 p.m. kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 5.
