The Escalon Outlaws varsity youth football squad looked to continue its winning ways while facing a much improved Riverbank Junior Bruins team. The smaller numbers on the sideline did not detour the home team Outlaws.
The Outlaws forced the Jr. Bruins to turn the ball over on downs during their first possession. Escalon could not capitalize on their first possession of the ball taking over at midfield. Escalon forced an early Riverbank miscue, Wyatt Dean recovered the loose ball in the Riverbank backfield. This time the Outlaws would not be denied, with a short drive ending with a Logan Webster push through the middle of the Riverbank defense behind the strong offensive line. The point after touchdown was converted by Fabian Torres giving Escalon an 8-0 lead.
Riverbank took the ensuing kick-off on a momentum building drive that included a broken field scamper by the tailback. Elijah Lattig was able to drag him down saving what could potentially have been a game tying score. Alex Guevara followed with a sack on the next play that halted the Riverbank drive stalling it deep in Escalon territory, leaving the halftime score 8-0.
Much of the third quarter was played between the 20 yard lines. Escalon would take the last drive of the third quarter and extend it into the fourth ending with a short plunge into the end zone by Luke Anderson behind the right side of the offensive line. Torres followed with another accurate kick through the uprights extending Escalon’s lead to 16-0.
Riverbank did not mount another serious threat to the Escalon end zone. The Outlaws, however, did not stop. Escalon would add one more score on a 20-yard pass, catch, and run from Ty Harris to Shane Campbell. Torres added another point after touchdown kick making the score 24-0.
Escalon will leave the friendly confines of Engel Field to travel to meet the Tuolumne Bears on Saturday, Sept. 3.
Junior Varsity
The Escalon junior varsity would also have their way with the visiting Riverbank Jr. Bruins. Escalon’s offense would not even have to take possession of the ball to get their first points on the scoreboard. The defense forced Riverbank to punt after three offensive plays. Alfonzo Gonzalez took the punt weaving around and through the Riverbank pursuit for a touchdown. Gonzalez would follow his score with the point after touchdown kick giving Escalon an early 8-0 lead.
Garrison Gerber and the rest of the defense proved to be formidable opposition to the Jr. Bruin offense allowing only minimal gains during most of their offensive possessions. Building on the defensive momentum the offense would score on a short drive culminating on a 15-yard touchdown run by JP Lial around the left end. The point after touchdown was added pushing the score to 16-0.
Escalon would break into the Jr. Bruin end zone three more times on a 23-yard run by Josh Miller, 10-yard run by Jacob Cavanaugh, and a 65-yard run by EJ Lewis. With the addition of two out of three point after touchdown kicks the score reached the final of 36-0.
Escalon will now have two games on the road before returning to Engel Field.
Novice
The Novice Outlaws did not fare as well as the older squads. Escalon would reach the end zone for the first time this season on a 1-yard plunge through the middle of the offensive line by Austin Cullum. Cullum’s score was set up by tough running by Ryan Lewis. The point after touchdown was turned away giving Escalon a 6-0 lead.
The Escalon defense could not hold up to the pressure from the Jr. Bruins’ punishing rushing attack. The defense surrendered two scores, but turned the point after touchdown conversion back swinging the score to the Jr. Bruin’s favor of 12-6.
Escalon did have one last gasp, taking possession of the ball with less than two minutes on the clock. The Outlaws just ran out of time as they took the ball inside the Riverbank 20-yard line as time expired.
The Novice Outlaws look to improve on their 0-2 record while visiting the Tuolumne Bears this coming weekend.
Jr. Novice
The Jr. Novice boys showed great improvement from their first game as they faced the visiting Riverbank Jr. Bruins. The offensive efforts were led by tough running by Kyrin Barajas, Andrew Munoz, Griffin Gerber and Ben Gonzalez with each of them reaching the end zone.
The youngest Outlaws showed they could play defense as well allowing only one score by the visitors. Hezekiah Griffin and Daniel Lopez-Marrufo led the way, efficiently tackling the Riverbank ball carriers that came their way.
The next opponent will be the Tuolumne Bears.
