Yet again, they crashed the party.

In what has become a theme in the early going, Escalon’s varsity football Cougars spoiled the home opener for another team.

This time, it was the Windsor Jaguars, opening their season at home Friday, Sept. 1 and welcoming the Cougars to town. But by the time the game ended, it was Escalon that came out on top, winning a 42-39 contest.

The destination was roughly a three-hour drive – each way – but the Cougars made the drive worth it for the fans that turned out.

It didn’t start out well, however; Escalon won the toss and elected to receive the kickoff. But a fumble on the second play from scrimmage paved the way for an early Windsor score.

The host Jaguars, with a quick strike offense, turned the turnover into six points, completing a couple of pass plays including an 8-yard strike for the touchdown. The point after was no good but the home team had the 6-0 lead.

Escalon answered with just over three minutes left in the first, Josh Graham going in on a 4-yard touchdown run. That extra point attempt was blocked, but the game was knotted 6-6.

Showing their resiliency at home, Windsor was back in the end zone with 1:10 to go in the opening quarter, a 13-yard rushing play and the kick good, going up 13-6.

Escalon mounted a long drive in the second quarter, going for it on a fourth and 5 at the 32-yard line but a pass fell incomplete, with Windsor getting the ball back, turnover on downs with 6:52 to go in the first half.

The Cougar defense then stepped up to the task, holding the high-powered Jaguars offense and forcing a punt that was returned to midfield by Sam Jimenez. A few plays later, Graham found the end zone again, this time on a 2-yard run with 16.3 seconds left in the half. He also took in the 2-point conversion and it was 14-13 Escalon at halftime.

“That second half was just a shootout, there were eight touchdowns scored,” head coach Andrew Beam said.

Windsor took the lead as they converted on a 6-yard pass play after taking the second half kickoff; the 2-point attempt was thwarted but the Jaguars had the lead, 19-14. After a Cougar punt, it was another Windsor score, a fast strike on a 69-yard catch and run play; the 2-point attempt was no good but it was suddenly 25-14 in favor of the home team with 7:12 to go in the third.

A strong kickoff return by Talan Reider and a huge 44-yard run by Graham set the Cougars up in good position. Jamin Miller then gained some hard, punishing yards and capped off the sequence with a 1-yad touchdown plunge. The 2-point attempt was no good; it was 25-20 Jaguars with 4:01 to play in the third.

Windsor’s next possession was cut short on a Ryan Lewis pick-six, returning it 29 yards for the score and then pulling in the 2-point conversion with 3:35 left in the third, putting Escalon on top, 28-25.

“I told my friend Sam at the beginning of the year that I was going to get one on the screen this year,” Lewis said of the pick six. “I did a spin move and it (pass) was right there for me and I took it to the house; I was shocked. At first, we were a little stunned because they scored right away … but then we started to figure them out.”

Beam said the team has thrived under their ‘road warrior’ circumstances and he said it took all players to get the win over Windsor.

“Ryan just spun outside, he made a beautiful catch and that was a tide turner,” the coach explained of the third quarter surge. “We were down 11 points and then it was a 21-point swing … it was insanity all of a sudden.”

Beam praised their opponents and their ability to strike quickly, adding that the Cougars were able to “stay the course” with their effective ground game, using it to their advantage.

After the interception by Lewis, Windsor scored again but had the touchdown called back on a hold; Jimenez then stepped up and pulled in the second interception of the night on the next series, putting the Cougars at midfield with 2:35 left in the third.

Escalon kept the ball on in to the fourth, with Miller scoring on the first play of that final quarter, an 8-yard touchdown, with the kick good by Reider. That gave Escalon a 35-25 edge.

Answering again, Windsor scored a touchdown with 10:13 left in the game, the 2-point was no good, but they trimmed the lead to 35-31.

For Trent Powell, lining up against the Jaguars and getting the best of them was a sweet reward after a long road trip.

“It feels pretty good doing it, it is a nice thing to come and compete with schools that are bigger than you, we are the underdogs out here but I feel pretty good, taking them down and meeting the challenge,” Powell said. “Some nerves kick in but at the end of the day I know my buddies have my back and everyone is going to make the play in time and save the game.”

A five-minute Cougar drive ensued after Windsor’s score, with a few penalties thrown in, and on a fourth and 13, it was Rozevink connecting with a wide-open Talan Reider for a 13-yard touchdown and Reider added the point after, making it 42-31 Escalon with 5:13 to play.

Nico Franzia was among the Cougars seeing plenty of action and said keeping the early season winning streak going was important.

“It felt really good and I’m ready to get number four,” Franzia said of notching the team’s third win in three games. “Our mindset is just smashmouth football … we’ve just got to have confidence in each other at the end, we knew we could do it so we went and got the job done.”

One more touchdown by Windsor came with just over two minutes to play, they tacked on the 2-point conversion to get within 42-39. The Jaguars then attempted the onside kick and though their player got to it first, the ball had gone just 9 yards and not the required 10, giving Escalon possession. From there, said Beam, they were able to get the first down they needed to then take a knee a couple of times and run out the clock.

“We’re just rolling with the theme of party crashers,” Beam said. “This is the third straight home opener (of another team) we’ve spoiled … the kids have really embraced going on the road.”

Nate Krieger had a strong defensive game with eight tackles, Jimenez had five tackles and an interception. Offensively, Graham had 24 carries for 161 yards and two touchdowns; Miller had 15 carries for 83 yards and two scores. Reider had 12 carries for 61 yards and one catch for 13 yards and touchdown. Rozevink was 7-for-12 for 90 yards and a touchdown. Carson Medina also had a solid game when called on as a blocking running back.

“We ran for 315 yards and we ran 65 plays to their 46,” Beam said. “Our offensive line needs a big shout out; they controlled the line all night.”

Escalon heads out to play the California High School Grizzlies in Sam Ramon on Sept. 8 with varsity kickoff at 7 p.m.

They play in the East Bay Mountain League and defeated James Logan this past week, 34-7.

“This will be their first home game,” Beam said of facing the team in San Ramon. “Just another challenge … Bay Area traffic on a Friday afternoon, a lot of adversity; we’ve been able to control those outlying issues and I’m just proud of the kids.”