With a final of Hilmar 34, Escalon 12, a road trip to Hilmar wasn’t too much fun for the youngest Escalon football players on Thursday.

“We were never in it,” lamented Coach Roger Beeman. “They outplayed us in every aspect of the game – offense, defense, special teams, coaching, fundamentals, technique, energy, and attitude. Our two best plays of the night were on kick-off returns after they had scored.

“Our energy was pretty good, and we kept working,” continued Beeman, “but we lost all sense of what we were trying to do. We’ve played better in the past, and we’ll play much better yet this year, but this game was a step backward in our development.”

Hilmar got the first score of the game late in the first quarter on a 2-yard run followed by a good kick. A second score came about six minutes later on a 23-yard run (1 point PAT) for a 14-0 Yellowjacket lead. Escalon scored on the ensuing kick-off when Noah Casillas handed to Jordan Gwartney, who ran 82 yards for the score (14-6). Hilmar came right back and scored late in the second quarter on a 20-yard pass play that left the score 20-6 at the half.

The third quarter saw Hilmar take advantage of an Escalon turnover, eventually scoring on a 1-yard run (27-6). Escalon countered on a quick drive set up by another good kick-off return and scored on a Carson Grogan to Alexis Jiminez 4-yard touchdown pass (27-12). Hilmar finished the scoring and the third quarter with a 19-yard run and kick for a final score of 34-12.

Escalon (2-1-1) will be looking to rebound from their first loss of the season when they travel to Hughson on Thursday, Oct. 8.