Closing out their season with a resounding win, Escalon’s JV football team handed the host Modesto Christian Crusaders a 48-0 setback on the road Friday.

“We had seven different guys get in the end zone,” said coach Andrew Beam of the balanced JV Cougar attack. “The only possession we punted on was our first of the night, we scored on every other possession.”

For Escalon, the JV team got contributions from multiple players, both on the ground and through the air, and also saw several freshmen brought up for the finale add their efforts to the win.

Escalon put up 14 points in the first quarter and 12 in the second for a 26-0 lead at the half. They scored eight more points in the third and posted 14 in the fourth for the lopsided win.

Tanner McCrary pulled in a 23-yard touchdown reception from Dylan Azevedo for the first score of the night, with Hugo Alcala notching the extra point. After a three-down stop forced MC to punt, Rex Robbins scored on a 52-yard fly sweep and Alcala nailed the extra point.

“It was an electrifying run,” Beam said.

C.J. Gumbs ran 25 yards for a score but the point after attempt was no good. Max Nicholas then pulled in a pass from Azevedo, a 25-yard touchdown reception, the 2-point attempt was stopped. That gave the JV Cougars the 26-0 edge at the half.

“In the second half, we gave our JV players one possession on each side, then we turned it over to the freshmen,” Beam said. “Kind of get a look at what the future of the program holds.”

With several freshmen on the JV roster to start the season, Beam moved up several more, with 15 total on the roster for the season finale.

“They did a good job for us,” he said.

Julio Mendoza scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter, the 2-point play was good from Azevedo to McCrary. In the fourth, Mark DeHaven scored on a 6-yard run and Elliott Mello took in the 2-point conversion, with Rhys Panero rounding out the scoring with a 2-yard run, 2-point conversion attempt failed.

“We ended up with 289 rushing yards, 63 passing yards and we only gave up 114 yards total to Modesto Christian,” said Beam. “We ended up 4-1 in league and the last six weeks, the team has improved tremendously. They went 5-1 over the last six weeks and the potential for growth among these guys is great, it should make for some exciting football the next couple of years.”

The JV team finished 6-4 overall. Hughson, the JV Trans-Valley League champion, went undefeated this season at 10-0.

“The teams we lost to were a combined 36-3-1 this season,” added Beam.

JV players moved up to varsity for the playoffs were Dylan Azevedo, C.J. Gumbs, Chance Bollen, Tyler Voral and Marc Camarena.