Having the opportunity to get a non-league game this week – varsity Trans-Valley League opponent Riverbank doesn’t have a JV team – the Escalon junior varsity Cougars went on the road and came home with a victory.

They were able to take on Kimball in Tracy on Friday night, winning by a 27-8 decision.

“We had a halftime lead 21-0 after two rushing scores by Nate Krieger, 12 yards and 44 yards, and Josh Graham for eight yards,” explained head coach Brant Rose.

Kimball cut the deficit to 21-8 in the third quarter, scoring on a seven-yard pass play and adding the 2-point conversion.

“We scored again in the fourth on a 38-yard pass from Jagger Scott to Nico Franzia to seal the game,” Rose added. “We had control on offense and defense for the entire game. We played really well and seemed to carry over momentum from our hard fought game against Manteca.”

In their Oct. 8 game at home, the JV Cougars took a 2-point loss to Manteca but put together one of their best efforts of the season in the non-league contest.

Rose said it was good to get them a game this week, rather than having a bye, as they got to stay in game mode ahead of a showdown with Ripon set for Oct. 22.

“The team is showing signs that we are playing our best football of the season as we head into our final two TVL games,” Rose said. “We’ll need this same effort against Ripon to pull out a win.”

Kickoff at Engel Field on Friday night is 5 p.m.