Homecoming is always a tough week, with distractions everywhere you turn, but the football team’s job is to stay focused and get the win.

That will be tough this year, as a winless Patterson team comes in, hungry for a victory. They will be looking to claw their way past the Cougars on Friday night, Sept. 23 and spoil the Homecoming party.

“Patterson is a big game for us,” Escalon head coach Mark Loureiro said, with his team at 2-2 in the preseason and coming off a hard-fought 26-21 loss to Liberty Ranch.

“Patterson is 0-3 but that’s against three Division I schools,”Loureiro noted. “That makes it scary for us; they need a win.”

Rob Cozart is head coach for the Tigers and the team features an option style of offense with multiple receivers. Top among them is Pierre D’Angelo-Williams, a wide receiver/cornerback who has a full ride to Fresno State waiting for him.

Quarterback is Kevin Todd and leading rushers are Chris Garcia and Kendrick Bond. James Perez is another favorite target at wide receiver and also lines up as a defensive back on the other side of the ball.

Linemen include Demetri Carrizales and Remoni Tufono and the Cougars will definitely have their hands full trying to tame the Tigers.

“It’s a tough match up for us, they are a speedy team, we’ll have to make plays in the open field,” said Loureiro.

Escalon is in the midst of a tough grind in their schedule, with Liberty Ranch followed by Patterson. After a bye week, they jump into Trans-Valley League play with Hilmar as their first opponent, on Oct. 7.