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Shutout loss, win for varsity flag football Lady Cougars
FF Barron 910
Shown in an earlier season home game against Lathrop, senior Jasmine Barron, one of this year’s varsity flag football team captains, heads toward the sideline with the defense in pursuit. She had one of the two Escalon touchdowns in a shutout victory at home on Sept. 3 as the girls hosted Beyer in non-league play, winning 12-0. Marg Jackson/The Times

Opening up their games this past week on the road, the varsity flag football girls traveled to Manteca and ended up being shut out by the host team, falling 27-0.

And despite the final score, it started out well for the Lady Cougars.

“We played a really good first half of football, maybe the best we’ve played all season,” said head coach Steve Largent. “We weren’t able to match the effort in the second half and we came up short and the game got away from us quickly.”

Escalon was never able to get in the end zone and left Manteca with the loss.

“The good news was we got to play the very next day and host Beyer and we came out on top and got back in the win column,” Largent noted.

That game, Escalon got the shutout win, defeating the visiting Patriots, 12-0.

“Senior quarterback Peyton Merrill found senior captain Jasmine Barron for the first score,” said Largent, “and then recent call up and sophomore quarterback Bretta Brooks connected with sophomore Yesenia Marsellis for a 30-yard touchdown in the second half.”

Defensive leaders were sisters Reagan and Kenadie Baker, helping to preserve the shutout.

“This week we play a doubleheader in San Ramon Wednesday night (Sept. 10) against San Ramon Valley and Northgate out of Walnut Creek,” Largent said of continuing the tough preseason schedule.

The team has just three games scheduled in the next two weeks, with plenty of time for practices before opening up Trans-Valley League action.

Largent said that very point was addressed at an early morning practice on Saturday, Sept. 6, with the message for the players to look in the mirror and focus on themselves and their play.

“What can we do these next few weeks to get ready physically and mentally prepared for Trans-Valley League play,” the coach explained.

The flag football varsity girls won’t be on the home field again until Monday, Sept. 22 for the Trans-Valley League home opener against Sonora.

The JV girls also played two games; they ended the non-league match at Manteca on Sept. 2 with a 6-6 tie; they then lost at home to Beyer on Sept. 3 by a 6-0 decision.