Three of the four Escalon Youth Cougars squads that took the football field against Amador came away with victories over the weekend. It was a bounce back week for the program, with Junior Novice, Junior Varsity and Varsity teams getting in the win column.
Junior Novice
The Junior Novice Cougars started the day with a gritty 13-0 victory over the Amador Buffaloes on Saturday. In a game defined by hard-nosed defense and clutch plays, Escalon’s defense shined, posting a shutout and keeping the Buffaloes scoreless.
Leading the defensive charge was Sebastian Coronado, who put on a standout performance with nine tackles and even found the end zone for one of Escalon’s two touchdowns. Isaiah Gonzalez contributed with six tackles and a fumble recovery, adding to the pressure that kept Amador from gaining any momentum.
The Cougars were relentless on defense from the start. Maverick Santos had seven tackles, while Hunter Jones recorded five tackles and a key fumble recovery. The defensive unit was rounded out by strong contributions from Jacob Mackrell (two tackles), Caden Jones (three tackles), and Jack Noack (four tackles, one fumble recovery).
On offense, Sebastian Martinez made his presence felt with four tackles and a crucial touchdown to extend the Cougars’ lead. The ground-and-pound approach of Escalon’s offense, coupled with timely defensive takeaways, kept the Buffaloes at bay throughout the contest.
Novice
The Novice Cougars displayed a well-rounded team performance, defeating the Amador Buffaloes 24-7. With a strong defensive stand and some clutch offensive moments, Escalon’s defense set the tone early, while the offense delivered key scores to secure the victory.
On defense, Andres Jimenez was a force with eight tackles, helping the Cougars contain Amador’s offense throughout the game. Liam Lombardi had a standout night on both sides of the ball, contributing five tackles and snagging a crucial interception. Lombardi was also key to the Cougars’ offensive success, throwing two passing touchdowns and rushing for another score, making him the player of the game.
The Cougars’ defensive dominance was further highlighted by Eric Cardenas, who added five tackles, and Grady Johnson, who recorded three tackles and an interception. Karson Sandretto and Zackariah Doty chipped in with three and two tackles, respectively, while Trenton Kjellberg, Jase Govia, and Josiah Canela each contributed two tackles. Canela also came up with a big fumble recovery to stop an Amador drive. Rounding out the defensive effort, Noah Canela, Blaine Suniga, and Logan Lanza added single tackles of their own.
The offensive side of the ball saw Andrew Machado haul in two receiving touchdowns, both coming from the arm of Lombardi. Antonio Brunetti added to the offensive fireworks with a passing touchdown of his own, further extending the Cougars’ lead.
Amador managed to score a lone touchdown, but the Escalon defense was simply too much for them to handle. From the start, Escalon’s defense applied pressure, forcing turnovers and keeping Amador from gaining any momentum.
Junior Varsity
The Junior Varsity Cougars put forth a valiant defensive effort, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Amador Buffaloes, who walked away with a 32-8 victory. While the scoreline may suggest otherwise, the Cougars’ defense fought hard throughout the game, making key tackles and forcing turnovers.
Colton Faria led the way for Escalon with four tackles, while Noah Castellanos and Landon Machado each added three tackles to the Cougars’ defensive effort. Logan Gonsalez and Jacob Barker were also solid contributors with two tackles apiece.
The highlight of the day for Escalon came from Jace Turnbough, who not only contributed two tackles but also found the end zone for the Cougars’ lone touchdown, providing a spark for the team. However, despite his efforts, the Cougars struggled to keep pace with Amador’s high-powered offense.
Escalon’s defense continued to work hard, with Julian Cruz, Mason Hoover, Jameson Kuykendall, Damion Sorrick, Cooper Johnson, Kaleb Butler, Ivan Valencia, Waylon Morgan, Jax Teixeira, Lucas Kackley, and Gavin DaSilva all contributing with one tackle each.
A key moment came when Zimri Hodge recovered a fumble, giving the Cougars an opportunity to turn the tide. Unfortunately, they were unable to capitalize on the turnover, and Amador’s offense continued to pull away.
Varsity
The Varsity Cougars secured a hard-fought 26-20 win over the Amador Buffaloes in a thrilling back-and-forth game on Friday night. Escalon’s combination of key defensive stops and clutch offensive plays proved to be the difference as they held on late to secure the victory.
The Cougars’ defense set the tone early, with standout performances across the board. Steven Fenton was instrumental, recording four tackles, a fumble recovery, and scoring a crucial touchdown to energize the team. Jaxon DeGruy matched Fenton’s defensive effort with four tackles, while Noah Gonsalves contributed three tackles to keep Amador’s offense at bay.
A critical moment came when Ty Caton snatched a game-changing interception to halt an Amador drive, adding to his two tackles on the night. Trey Herrera also had a pivotal play with a fumble recovery and two tackles, as Escalon capitalized on the Buffaloes’ mistakes.
On offense, the Cougars found the end zone multiple times, beginning with a touchdown from Trevor Jansen, who hauled in a pass from Archer Sanders for a score. Sanders showcased his versatility, throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another, leading the Cougar offense with key plays throughout the night.
In perhaps the most exciting sequence of the game, Ryker Lial made his presence felt on both sides of the ball. Lial contributed to Escalon’s scoring with a touchdown, recovered a fumble, made an interception, and added one tackle to round out a stellar all-around performance.
Despite Amador’s best efforts to mount a comeback, Escalon’s defense stepped up when it mattered most, with Landen DeCroix, Adam Cordeiro, Diego Garcia, Cristian Camara, and Trevor Jansen each contributing tackles to the cause.
EYC Cheer
Outstanding performances were put in by all cheer squads this weekend. A few ladies were acknowledged this past week for their positive attitude, helping others, conquering a skill and outstanding character. “Spirit Stick” recipients were Alana Hernandez (Junior Novice), Eden and Azul J. (Varsity).
