The Escalon Outlaws looked to further their winning record while welcoming the Hughson Jr. Huskies to participate the in their Homecoming celebration for the 2016 football season. This pairing has become almost as fierce a rivalry as that of the Ripon Jr. Chiefs.
The Jr. Huskies received the game opening kickoff. The Outlaws forced a punt that was returned 25-yards by Carson Prim into Jr. Huskies territory. Escalon’s potent running attack delivered on the Outlaws’ first possession. Punishing runs by Logan Webster and Luke Anderson were complemented by the speed of Fabian Torres. Torres scored on a sweep around the left end. The point after touchdown kick was not converted giving Escalon an early 6-0 advantage.
Escalon scored on their second possession after forcing a turnover on downs. The 50-yard scoring drive ended with a 12-yard pass from Ty Harris to Elijah Lattig. The point after kick was converted by Torres extending the Outlaws’ advantage to 14-0.
The Outlaws stretched their lead with the opening drive of the second half. Hughson tried a failed onside kick giving Escalon a short field to travel. Harris connected with Anderson on a 6-yard toss. The point after kick was again converted by Torres pushing the lead out to 22-0. The visitors broke the shutout on the scoreboard with their next turn on offense. Hughson’s point after kick was true bringing the score to 22-8.
The Outlaws answered the Jr. Huskies score to regain their 22-point advantage as Torres raced through the left side of the defense from 37 yards out. The point after kick was good, making it 30-8. The Escalon defense would chip in on the scoring effort when Shane Campbell stepped in front of a Jr. Huskies pass and returned it 26-yards to goal. The point after was not converted leaving the score 36-8.
Hughson took their final possession and threatened to tack on one last score, but Prim intercepted a pass as the game clock expired.
Escalon will host Ripon on Saturday to end the regular season schedule. This game not only has bragging rights at risk, but the value of playoff seeding will be up for grabs.
JUNIOR VARSITY
The JV Outlaws looked to recover after a setback last week taking the loss to the Linden Jr. Lions. Escalon needed a win this week to keep the hopes of regaining the top seed for the Valley Division. Even though the Jr. Huskies came into this match winless during the league schedule Hughson seems to bring an extra level of intensity to these games.
Hughson received the game opening kickoff, but only had possession of the ball for a short while. The Outlaws defense got an early break as Nathan Chavez recovered a fumble giving Escalon their first effort on offense. Josh Miller found Christian Tinoco behind the Hughson secondary for a 53-yard score. The point after touchdown kick was blocked, but Escalon had a 6-0 lead. Hughson answered with their next chance with the ball carrying a long sustained drive for a score. Hughson’s point after kick would be converted giving them an 8-6 advantage.
The 8-6 score would carry to the halftime break. Escalon got the first chance of the second half after Tinoco returned the kick inside the Jr. Huskies’ 20-yard line. Escalon could not capitalize turning the ball over on downs. Escalon got another chance as JP Lial recovered another Jr. Huskies fumble. Miller again found Tinoco, this time from 30 yards out. The point after kick was converted by Alfonzo Gonzalez. The score was in Escalon’s favor at 14-8. Hughson answered with their next possession, but a bad snap on the point after left the score tied 14-14. The Jr. Huskies carried that momentum forcing an Escalon turnover on downs, and cashing in another score with the point after kick the score was 22-14 in Hughson’s favor.
Escalon took the ball on the ensuing kickoff on a scoring drive of their own. Tinoco was pressed into service again toting the ball on a winding run through the Hughson defensive secondary. He fumbled the ball at the goal line where it was recovered in the end zone by Evan Lewis. The point after kick was blocked leaving Escalon trailing 22-20. The ensuing kickoff was taken from the Hughson 30-yard line due to penalties on Hughson during the Escalon score. Tinoco continued to be a factor in this game as he out leaped the Jr. Huskies to recover the onside kick. The kick was recovered inside the Hughson 20-yard line with 1:02 left on the game clock.
Escalon executed their offense to crush the hopes of Hughson’s first Valley Division win of the season. The Outlaws drove inside the Jr. Huskies 10 yard line with time running out. Miller sent a pass to the end zone to be tipped by a Hughson defender only to come to rest in the arms of Tyler Medina. The point after kick was converted by Gonzalez to bring the score to 28-22.
Escalon will have to match this victory next week as Ripon comes to visit. Both teams have one loss in league play looking to secure a higher seed in the upcoming playoffs.
NOVICE
The young Escalon Outlaws did not fare as well as the older teams on this day. The Outlaws fell 20-6 to the visiting Hughson Jr. Huskies. Escalon’s score was the result of a 5-yard pass from Jamin Miller to Austin Cullum. The point after conversion was turned away by the Hughson defense. There were other offensive contributions through hard running by Hayden McPherson and Alan Jimenez who hauled in two passes.
David White, Lucas Johnson and Giovanni Chavez worked hard on defense taking on the tough running attack by the Jr. Huskies.
JUNIOR NOVICE
The youngest Outlaws showed their mettle against the visiting Jr. Huskies. Griffin Gerber was able to get into the end zone not once, but twice on the day. Daniel Lopez-Marrufo connected on a rare pass with Ben Gonzalez who raced 31 yards to the end zone.
Lopez-Marrufo also had an interception of a pass while on defense. Hezekiah Griffin dug in in the trenches on both the offensive and defensive lines creating lanes to run while on offense, and taking them away while on defense.
