Escalon’s underclassmen came up big on the football field this past week, with both the junior varsity squad and the freshmen defeating Hilmar in Trans-Valley League action.
With the varsity Cougars also winning big over the Yellowjackets, it was an Escalon sweep for the football program.
For the JV team, it was a 35-7 final, but it started out with both the Cougars and Yellowjackets getting on the scoreboard in the opening quarter. The game was a ‘home’ contest for Escalon, played on the field at Modesto Junior College on Friday, Oct. 13. Ben Ferreira scored on a 53-yard run with the kick good by Isaac Patino to put Escalon up 7-0. Hilmar answered with a short 3-yard rushing score, kick good, to knot the score at 7-7.
After that, it was all Escalon as they added scores in every quarter on the way to the win.
“This was a hard fought win to secure at least a share of the TVL title,” said head coach Brant Rose. “It was uncharacteristic of our team to get big offensive yardage plays, but they finally came in a huge game.”
Escalon had a 14-7 lead at the half, with Ben Gonzalez scoring on a 19-yard rushing play in the second quarter and Patino adding the extra point.
Third quarter scores were Gonzalez on a 60-yard run, Patino kick to make it 21-7; Jeremy Grivette on an 18-yard fumble return for the score, kick good by Patino for a 28-7 lead.
Final touchdown of the night came in the fourth quarter, with a 31-yard rushing score from Kamari Castro and Patino adding the point after to make the final 35-7 in favor of Escalon.
“In addition to the offensive scores, Daniel Marrufo had a big time interception inside our own five-yard line that prevented Hilmar from tying the game in the second quarter,” Rose explained. “That was a huge momentum shift. Ben Ferreira also had a key interception late in the second quarter that preserved our first half lead.”
And even though the score looks like the JV Cougars were in control of the contest, Rose said it took an entire team effort to secure the victory.
“Really proud of how hard the boys played for four quarters,” the coach noted. “This was not an easy win, Hilmar is a tough team. But that win sets up a Homecoming showdown with Ripon for the outright TVL championship.”
Kickoff in the Escalon-Ripon game will be Friday night, Oct. 20 at 5 p.m., with the contest at the renovated Engel Field on the EHS campus.
FRESHMEN
Traveling to Hilmar for a Thursday night contest, Oct. 12, the youngest Cougars came home with a hard fought 24-21 win in TVL play.
In the first quarter, a fumble recovery for the frosh Cougars paved the way for a roughly 35-yard drive, capped off with a short yardage run for the touchdown by Noah Dooley. Damian Morales added the kick for an early 7-0 lead.
A 14-yard touchdown by Mikey Lourenco, kick good by Morales, made it 14-0 Escalon before Hilmar got on the board. The host Yellowjackets cut the lead in half on a strong second quarter drive, getting to within 14-7.
“Then we had a good drive,” said freshman head coach Joey Costa. “Lourenco made a big time catch and then Morales hit a 29-yard field goal to put us up 17-7 at the half.”
The teams started trading possessions in the second half until late in the third when Escalon’s K’oz Castro went on a 60-yard counter run for a touchdown, kick good by Morales to put the visiting frosh squad up 24-7.
“In the fourth quarter, Hilmar battled back and scored a couple of touchdowns,” Costa explained. “They set up for a field goal with no time left and missed it.”
That gave the tight win to Escalon, holding on for the three-point victory.
Tyler Powell had a fumble recovery and Noah Dooley added a pick in the contest.
“Lourenco had a big game on both sides of the ball and I’m really proud of our offensive line, they did a good job and on defense, Dooley, Castro and Morales were our leaders.”
Escalon stands at 3-4-1 overall and is undefeated in TVL play. They will be at Ripon on Thursday night, Oct. 19 for a game to decide the league championship, with kickoff at 6 p.m.
