After winning five straight to start the season, Escalon’s JV football boys took a heartbreaking loss at home on Sept. 26.
They had a 21-7 lead entering the fourth quarter but found themselves on the losing end of a 22-21 final against the visiting Hilmar Yellowjackets.
The freshmen, meanwhile, were on the road Thursday, Sept. 25 and lost a close one, 14-12, to Hilmar.
For the JV team, head coach Brant Rose said it was a combination of Cougar miscues that provided opportunities for Hilmar, opportunities their opponent capitalized on.
“A fourth quarter collapse resulted in a heartbreaker in the final moment,” Rose admitted. “We had control of the entire game on both sides of the ball. But the final 8:30 got away from us.”
In the first quarter, Erin Vanderwerff scored on an 11-yard rushing play with the Juan Pablo De Luna kick good for a 7-0 Escalon lead. In the second quarter, Archer Sanders tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Machado and De Luna’s kick was good for a 14-0 lead.
Hilmar cut the lead in half with a 24-yard touchdown pass, kick good, so it was a 14-7 Cougar lead at halftime.
Carter Cummings scored on a three-yard rushing touchdown in the third with the De Luna kick good to make it 21-7.
But the fourth quarter was all Hilmar, converting on a 32-yard pass play, point after good, trimming the lead to 21-14. Then a two-yard rush for a score and a successful two-point conversion pass made it 22-21 with just a few seconds remaining. Escalon took the kick off and tried to keep the ball moving down the field with a couple of successful tosses back and forth but Hilmar pounced on one that fell to the ground and sealed the win.
“Two fourth quarter turnovers, a fumble and an interception gave Hilmar the opportunity they needed to steal the game away from us,” Rose said. “Credit to Hilmar for taking advantage of those chances to get the win. Life in the TVL; anything can happen at any point in any game.”
FRESHMEN
Taking a 14-12 loss on the road, head coach Nate Caton said it was the “best game” his team has played this year.
“Our guys were motivated to compete,” he said. “Everybody played their best game on offense, defense, and special teams.”
High marks went to Kevin Rocha, moved to tackle for the game and Joey Calcagno, who started at guard. Defensively, Caton said, the team was much improved with tackling and dominated the line of scrimmage with Christian Camara, Rocha, and Alex Gomez.
“Landon DeCroix had his best game by returning a kick in the opening of the second half and scored,” Caton said, giving Escalon a 6-0 lead. The teams then traded possessions and Hilmar hit for two touchdowns in the third quarter to lead 14-6.
“In the fourth, things got intense,” said Caton.
DeCroix again got into the end zone after a long drive by the Cougars and they went for the two-point conversion for the tie but failed. Still, kicker Moises Cortes III made the onside kick and Kash Kuhlman recovered it to give the frosh squad a chance.
“We got close to the end zone but ran out of time as our field goal team was running out there,” said Caton. “I wish we would’ve won but the coaches and I know that our guys are only getting better.”
The freshmen will travel to Hughson to take on the Huskies on Oct. 2 at 6 p.m.; the JV will be at home for a 5 pm. kickoff Friday, Oct. 3.
