The only Escalon High School football team playing on Friday night this week, the JV squad was on the road. They traveled to Gregori for non-league action on Oct. 7, as the varsity opponent from Thursday night – Modesto Christian – doesn’t field a JV team. Escalon was able to pick up the game and headed to nearby Modesto for the contest.

They came home with a hard fought 14-7 win.

“Gregori is a big, physical team with a few really good athletes,” noted head coach Brant Rose. “They moved the ball in short chunks and kept time of possession in their favor. Aside from the big rushing touchdown, our defense played well. Kyrin Barajas had an important interception in the second half.”

Scores by quarters saw Escalon get on the board first, with Logan Dooley collecting an interception and running it back for the pick six in the first quarter. Logan Huebner then added the extra point for an early 7-0 lead.

In the third quarter, host Gregori tied it up on a 66-yard touchdown run, kick good, score knotted at 7-7.

“Offensively, we moved the ball consistently on the ground, but a costly fumble in the red zone during the second quarter kept this game tight until the end,” Rose explained.

In the fourth quarter, the JV Cougars got the go ahead score on a one-yard rushing touchdown from Carson Medina and Huebner added the extra point for the 14-7 final.

“Overall, we were happy to come out with a win against a solid, large school opponent,” Rose said.

The freshmen, who were home on Thursday night, Oct. 6, fell in a shutout decision to visiting Stagg out of Stockton.