The Junior Varsity Escalon Outlaws were tasked with carrying the mantle for the Outlaws’ organization into the second round of the Mother Lode-Valley Football League play-offs after the Varsity was eliminated last week by the Hughson Huskies. The JV Outlaws were on the road at a neutral site play-off location this week. Escalon would meet a well-known rival, Ripon Chiefs, at Linden High School.

Ripon won the previous meeting in convincing fashion 33-16. Saturday would end in a much different manner. Escalon’s defense would rise to the occasion to stifle the potent Ripon offense.

“The whole defense came to play, and everyone did their job.” stated head coach Milo Alvarado, praising the defense as a whole instead of naming individuals.

The defense would only surrender eight points to the Ripon Chiefs, making the job of the offense that much easier.

Escalon would collect scores from Ryker Peters, Caleb Cavanaugh and Donovan Rosevink on the ground. Rosevink would also connect with Owen Nash for another score. Jacob Martin would add two point after touchdown kicks to account for 28 total points for the Outlaws, for the final score of 28-8.

Escalon made a bold statement to their eventual opponent Waterford that they would be ready for their next meeting next weekend in the MVFL Championship game.

Novice

The Novice Outlaws were looking to get back into rhythm after the week of rest during their well-earned bye week that had come with their No. 1 seed in the Mother Lode Valley Football League play-offs. The Outlaws would meet the Waterford Sabrecats with whom they had split the two meetings this season.

Escalon would capitalize on early Waterford miscues to jump out to a first quarter 12-0 lead. The first score would come off of a 69-yard drive following a fumble recovery. A steady course of Austin Cullum, Kyrin Barajas, and David White would advance the ball toward the Waterford end zone. Jacob Cavanaugh would carry the ball the last 26 yards on a sweep around the left end, weaving through and around the Sabrecat tacklers. The conversion attempt would be stopped short of the goal line. Cavanaugh would recover another Waterford fumble on the ensuing kick-off giving Escalon a short field to work with. The 22-yard drive would end with a one-yard plunge by Cullum. The conversion would again be stopped.

Waterford would get on the scoreboard with a 53-yard drive to open the third quarter of play. The Outlaws would stop the conversion attempt to make the score 12-6. Escalon would answer with a 40-yard drive of their own that ended with a two-yard sweep around the left end by Barajas. The conversion would be stopped, but Escalon would extend the lead back to two scores at 18-6. Waterford would add another score without a conversion to close the gap to 18-12 but got no closer in the contest.

The Outlaws will face Hughson in the MVFL Championship game at Waterford High School next weekend.