With the novice and the junior varsity Outlaws squads each making it to the championship contest, neither team was able to bring home the title. It wasn’t for lack of effort, but the Outlaws just couldn’t find a way to get past their opponents in the Saturday, Oct. 28 action.
Junior Varsity
The Escalon Outlaws Jr. Varsity traveled to Waterford this weekend to match up against the Waterford Sabrecats in the Mother Lode Valley Football League Championship. This game marked the third meeting this season between these two opponents with Waterford winning both of those previous games. It is often said that it is tough to beat a team three times in the same season, and Escalon would do their best to live up to that statement.
Waterford would start the game by receiving the opening kick-off. The Sabrecats’ possession would last one play. The sweeping running back would fumble the ball, and Caleb Cavanaugh would recover for the Outlaws. Escalon would make the most of this opportunity when Donovan Rosevink found an open Ayden Wilson behind the Waterford defense for a 31-yard touchdown. The point after kick was converted by Jacob Martin giving Escalon a very early 8-0 lead.
The Sabrecats would reach the end zone at the end of a 70-yard drive on their third possession of the day. The score would be tied 8-8 after the point after kick was converted. On the ensuing kick-off Waterford attempted and onside kick. Owen Nash would step in front of the high bounce, and exploit a hole in the Waterford pursuit to race 49-yards for the score. Martin would be true again with the point after kick to give Escalon the lead again at 16-8.
That would be the last time Escalon would lead. Waterford would score 22 unanswered points from the mid-point of the second quarter to the final siren of the game.
The season’s end did not quite turn out the way the Outlaws, or their fans had hoped, but they fought the entire season to reach the point to compete for the League Championship. Congratulations to the Jr. Varsity Outlaws on a wonderful season.
Novice
The Novice Escalon Outlaws met the Hughson Huskies in the Mother Lode Valley Football League Championship. These two teams had met only one other time this season during week #4, with Escalon claiming the narrow victory 13-12.
Hughson would take the opening kick-off and steadily march the football down the field toward the Escalon end zone. The Huskies would possess the ball for seven minutes and 55 seconds of the 10-minute quarter. Hughson would score the touchdown with the point after conversion to stake themselves to a 7-0 lead.
Escalon’s offense would turn the ball over on downs after their first possession. Hughson would start to drive again, but would turn the ball over themselves with a bad exchange between the quarterback and running back. Ryan Miligi would corral the loose ball to give Escalon another opportunity. The Outlaws did not gain any ground, again turning the ball over on downs. This time the ball would be turned over deep in Escalon territory.
The Outlaws would end the first half with a goal line stand. The defense, led by Miligi, Giovanni Chavez, and Carson Medina, would stifle the Huskies inside the Escalon 5-yard line.
The second half of the game was a battle between the 35-yard lines. Neither team was able to gain enough momentum to garner any points, with Hughson claiming the victory. The Escalon defense made adjustments that stymied the Hughson offense. The defensive effort was led by Jacob Cavanaugh, Hayden McPherson, Austin Cullum, and Josue Murga.
The much improved Outlaws were able to carry the number one seed into the play-offs following a season last year where they were only able to notch one win. It is definitely a good sign to see how much one year means to the growth of the players. Only one team gets to end their season on a win. Congratulations to the young Outlaws on a terrific season.
