Head coach Randy Northcutt let his JV Cougars know just before they hit the field Friday night ... if they beat Ripon, they had the Trans-Valley League championship all to themselves.
Defeated 14-7 by Modesto Christian on Nov. 7 at home, Northcutt received a call during the week that MC forfeited the contest, admitting to using an ineligible player. That opened the door for Escalon's JV to claim the crown outright and they didn't disappoint, seizing the opportunity and getting past Ripon 21-14 on Friday, Nov. 14.
"It was nice on their part to do that, the CIF doesn't pay that much attention to the JVs," Northcutt said of the class that Modesto Christian displayed in confessing to the ineligible player, since it may not have been caught by section officials. "He played both sides of the ball against us. Technically, we lost the game but they had to forfeit."
Escalon came out with a vengeance on Friday night, scoring twice in the first quarter and taking a 14-7 lead at the half. They made it 21-17 with a third quarter score, Ripon got one back in the fourth and the final was a 21-14 victory.
"They all played well," Northcutt said of this team, giving high marks to Kyle Rose for an outstanding rushing night, the offensive line of Shane Silveira, Colton Smith, Victor Carrillo, Dylan Granzow, Chad Hale, Nathan Caton and Josh Hawkins.
"Andrew Baroni, David Gonzales and Trey Balber did a good job on defense, Brandon Shaw did a nice job running the offense and Josh Miguel ran well," added Northcutt.
Kyle Rose scored on a 3-yard run and Josh Miguel on a 10-yard run in the first quarter, with Gino Franceschetti kicking the extra point each time.
Ripon scored on a 35-yard run with the kick good after to trim the lead to 14-7.
Rose scored on a 4-yard run in the third, the kick was good for a 21-7 lead and Ripon completed a 5-yard pass play with the point after in the fourth for the 21-14 final.
The Cougars had 262 total yards on the night, with 234 rushing yards and 28 on the pass, with a total of 12 first downs. Ripon had seven first downs, 171 total yards with 33 rushes for 142 yards and 29 yards passing.
Rose had 26 carries for Escalon for 132 yards and two touchdowns, with eight carries by Miguel for 90 yards with one touchdown and one pass reception for 21 yards. Mark Ceniceros had two carries for four yards on the night.
"We came out and pounded them in the third quarter, Kyle had 12 carries for 70 yards in that quarter, they couldn't stop him," Northcutt said. "We dominated on both sides of the ball and that wraps it up, we were 9-1 overall, 5-0 in league and league champions."
The only loss for the JV team came against Division I Buhach Colony early in the season.
Defeated 14-7 by Modesto Christian on Nov. 7 at home, Northcutt received a call during the week that MC forfeited the contest, admitting to using an ineligible player. That opened the door for Escalon's JV to claim the crown outright and they didn't disappoint, seizing the opportunity and getting past Ripon 21-14 on Friday, Nov. 14.
"It was nice on their part to do that, the CIF doesn't pay that much attention to the JVs," Northcutt said of the class that Modesto Christian displayed in confessing to the ineligible player, since it may not have been caught by section officials. "He played both sides of the ball against us. Technically, we lost the game but they had to forfeit."
Escalon came out with a vengeance on Friday night, scoring twice in the first quarter and taking a 14-7 lead at the half. They made it 21-17 with a third quarter score, Ripon got one back in the fourth and the final was a 21-14 victory.
"They all played well," Northcutt said of this team, giving high marks to Kyle Rose for an outstanding rushing night, the offensive line of Shane Silveira, Colton Smith, Victor Carrillo, Dylan Granzow, Chad Hale, Nathan Caton and Josh Hawkins.
"Andrew Baroni, David Gonzales and Trey Balber did a good job on defense, Brandon Shaw did a nice job running the offense and Josh Miguel ran well," added Northcutt.
Kyle Rose scored on a 3-yard run and Josh Miguel on a 10-yard run in the first quarter, with Gino Franceschetti kicking the extra point each time.
Ripon scored on a 35-yard run with the kick good after to trim the lead to 14-7.
Rose scored on a 4-yard run in the third, the kick was good for a 21-7 lead and Ripon completed a 5-yard pass play with the point after in the fourth for the 21-14 final.
The Cougars had 262 total yards on the night, with 234 rushing yards and 28 on the pass, with a total of 12 first downs. Ripon had seven first downs, 171 total yards with 33 rushes for 142 yards and 29 yards passing.
Rose had 26 carries for Escalon for 132 yards and two touchdowns, with eight carries by Miguel for 90 yards with one touchdown and one pass reception for 21 yards. Mark Ceniceros had two carries for four yards on the night.
"We came out and pounded them in the third quarter, Kyle had 12 carries for 70 yards in that quarter, they couldn't stop him," Northcutt said. "We dominated on both sides of the ball and that wraps it up, we were 9-1 overall, 5-0 in league and league champions."
The only loss for the JV team came against Division I Buhach Colony early in the season.
