Round three goes to Escalon.

Ever since the introduction of the ‘Vaca Bowl’ in 2023, it has been won by the Cougars in the annual rivalry battle between Escalon and Hilmar. And, in serious need of a Trans-Valley League win, the host Cougars put together a solid game on Sept. 26 to retain the ‘Milk Can’ trophy, defeating the Yellowjackets 27-9.

The inaugural Vaca Bowl game was won by Escalon, 49-21, and last year, they kept the trophy with a 42-17 win.

This past Friday, they held the Hilmar offense in check almost all night, allowing just a field goal in the third quarter and a late fourth quarter touchdown to the visitors.

Escalon, meanwhile, scored in a variety of ways and senior quarterback Logan Huebner had a game for the ages, with a rushing touchdown, a touchdown reception and two touchdown passes to his credit.

Escalon, which went 2-2 in the preseason and lost their Trans-Valley League opener on the road at Sonora on Sept. 19 by a 49-14 final, was looking to pull even in the TVL, knowing each game has playoff implications.

“We got closer,” head coach Andrew Beam said of playing at full speed and intensity for four quarters. “Our defense played outstanding, kickoff teams were good.”

The offense had a little trouble getting going, the coach added, and neither team scored in the first quarter. Hilmar kicked off but Escalon’s first drive stalled and then the teams traded possessions throughout the opening frame.

“Just trying to get a feel,” Beam said of the teams being a little cautious early on.

But once Escalon settled in, everything started clicking.

In the second quarter, the Cougars used a play they call ‘Varsity Blues,’ Beam explained, with the snap going directly to Dylan Ball as quarterback Huebner sprinted toward the sideline and then down the field. It was a high, wobbly pass but Huebner went up, higher than the Hilmar defender, and pulled it in. He then charged downfield into the end zone, teammate Chase Cummings in step with him to ward off any late arriving Yellowjackets, and the Cougars were on the scoreboard after the 60-yard catch and run. Ricky Chavez added the point after for a 7-0 lead.

It was Huebner again on the next touchdown, going in himself from nine yards out later in the second quarter, this time Brody Abbott put the extra point through, extending the lead to 14-0.

That’s where it was at halftime, and the Cougars knew they needed to stay focused throughout the second half to get the win.

“We’ve been working for this,” said senior Cummings of taking down Hilmar. “We just continue to go, put in the work, grind every day … I think we deserved this one. Just a good effort from everyone out there.”

Fellow senior Logan Wentzell agreed that it was a total team victory.

“Our goal was to just show that as a football team, we are ready to take on anyone, we’re here to compete and we can compete with the biggest and baddest,” Wentzell said. “This was just a stepping stone in the right direction … I’m really happy, we came out in the second half with energy and focus; we knew we had another half to play but we still just kept our foot on the pedal, that’s all.”

After Hilmar capped a third quarter drive with a 36-yard field goal to trim the lead to 14-3, Escalon answered back.

“We had a third and really long,” Beam said, with some penalties pushing the team back. “But Logan got good protection from the offensive line and he found Chase Cummings on a post route, the play went 62 yards for the score.”

The extra point attempt hit off the upright, but Escalon went up 20-3.

They made it a 27-3 lead in the fourth quarter, this time Huebner finding Carter Yates on a 40-yard pass play and Abbott putting the extra point through.

“We gave up a late score on a 22-yard pass,” Beam said.

A bad snap negated a try at the extra point so Hilmar trailed 27-9 and Escalon would go on to close it out, leaving both teams with 1-1 records in league play. Hilmar had earlier defeated Ripon Christian in their TVL opener.

“We had 377 yards of offense to their 268,” Beam said. “Offensively, Huebner had 10 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown, he was 7-for-13 passing for 196 yards and two touchdowns and he had one catch for 60 yards and a touchdown. He accounted for 321 yards, that’s pretty unique and it was really nice to see him have a good night at quarterback.”

Ball had seven carries for 67 yards and was 1-for-1 passing.

Defensively, Ball had eight tackles to lead the team, Conner McDowell had seven tackles and a sack, Mason Haverkamp had seven tackles and Daniel Marrufo added a sack.

And while it was just one game on the schedule, Beam said it was significant.

“You lose this one, you could spiral in the wrong direction,” he admitted. “I’m not going to say this is the turning point for our season, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

Escalon will next face off with Hughson, as the Huskies come in to Engel Field for Homecoming on Friday, Oct. 3 with a 7 p.m. kickoff.