Escalon’s junior varsity football team took a disappointing loss Friday night, falling to Ripon at Engel Field; the freshmen also fell in a road game at Ripon on Thursday but put together a solid effort.

For the JV Cougars, it was a 25-7 loss. Ripon scored on a 7-yard run in the first quarter but the point after attempt was blocked by Talan Reider, giving the visitors an early 6-0 lead.

The host squad found themselves down 18-0 at the half, as Ripon scored on a 3-yard run and a 5-yard run in the second quarter. Each time on the extra point attempt, Reider again found a way to block it.

In the fourth quarter, Reider got it done offensively, as he scored on an 18-yard touchdown run, then added the extra point to trim the lead to 18-7. But the Indians converted on a 52-yard run and added the point after for the final margin of victory, 25-7.

“We were mistake filled in every phase of the game from the opening kickoff. This was our poorest performance of the season by far and unfortunately it occurred in a big rivalry game,” said head coach Brant Rose. “In the first half, Ripon had great field position on each of their scoring possessions as a result of a good punt return, an interception, and a blocked punt. Those three scoring drives all began in Escalon territory.”

Rose said his team was also able to move the ball consistently on offense but couldn’t finish.

“We could never overcome our own mistakes,” he explained. “This was a disappointing loss for the team because we have shown this season that we are a better team than how we performed against Ripon.”

The JV boys will be at home for their season finale on Friday, Oct. 29 hosting Livingston and Rose said it will be a chance for them to get back in the win column.

“It’s a winnable game. But not if we played like last week,” the coach said. “I’m looking forward to see what our team is made of.”

FRESHMEN

In a hard fought contest, Escalon’s freshmen came up just a little short on the road at Ripon. The Oct. 21 game saw the host Indians take the win, 14-8.

“The halftime score was 8-0 Ripon,” said head coach Joey Costa. “After the first quarter when we gave up the touchdown, we played really well defensively. We gave up the second touchdown to them late in the third quarter.”

His Cougars, meanwhile, moved the ball pretty well in the second half, though a third quarter drive got stopped short as they had to turn the ball over on downs.

“We scored our touchdown early in the fourth. Austin Cullum scored the touchdown and Jacob Augusto caught the two-point conversion,” Costa said. “Christian Becerra had a good passing day as John Konradi caught five passes.”

Defensive standouts for the freshmen, the coach added, were Trent Powell, Preston Berhorst and Josh Limones.

“I was proud of the way we fought and keep coming back. We are a completely different team here at the end of the season,” noted Costa. “I am very proud of the way we kept improving throughout the season.”