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Varsity Road Win At Livingston For Cougar Football
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Quarterback Wyatt McCune, a senior, was able to take some snaps in the Oct. 25 game at Livingston, as the Cougars put 55 points on the board. Photo By Ryann Christensen

It was 21-3 after one quarter, 42-3 at the half.

Two Cougar touchdowns came from the offensive line.

The team was hitting on all cylinders and methodically took down the host Livingston Wolves on Friday night, upending the home team by a 55-24 final on Oct. 25.

Kaden Christensen piled up some astronomical numbers, scoring five touchdowns and amassing a total of 362 yards by himself as part of the 538-yard Cougar offensive explosion.

As much as the Cougars dominated the game, it started off in unusual fashion.

“On our first offensive play of the game, Bryan Hale fumbled but Damien Tom, an offensive tackle, picked up our own fumble and ran it in from 61 yards out for a touchdown,” said head coach Andrew Beam.

The next score came from Christensen, on an 82-yard run, to make it 14-0.

Livingston came back with a field goal to trim the lead to 14-3 but the Cougars then rattled off 28 unanswered points in the first half to take the commanding 42-3 lead.

Colton Panero scored on a three-yard run in the first quarter to make it 21-3.

In the second quarter, Christensen pulled in a 60-yard pass from Ty Harris for the score, then went in on a seven-yard rushing play. Guard David Camacho put the final touchdown of the first half on the board for the Cougars, recovering a Livingston fumble and taking it in for the score.

All the point after attempts for Escalon were good on the night but one.

“We had two of our offensive linemen score in the game’s first half,” Beam said of the unusual contest, the team taking advantage of the Livingston mistakes.

With the big lead, several players got to see action in the second half for Escalon, everyone getting an opportunity to contribute to the league victory.

Third quarter scoring for Escalon came from Christensen, a 29-yard catch from Harris (kick no good) and then, after Livingston scored a touchdown, Christensen returned the kickoff 78 yards for the final score of the evening for the visitors. That made it 55-10.

Livingston added another touchdown in the third, 55-17, and capped their night with one score in the fourth, making the final 55-24.

“We gave up some second half scores,” Beam noted.

Escalon is gearing up for its regular season finale, when they will host Hughson on Friday night, Nov. 1.

“Livingston threw the ball 44 times and they had 352 yards passing,” Beam said, adding that his team will be working on its pass coverage during practices this week.

With 81 yards rushing, the Wolves had 433 total yards compared to Escalon’s 538.

Quarterback Ty Harris completed six of 14 pass attempts for 202 yards and two touchdowns on the night.

Eli Lattig got high marks for his efforts, getting the start in place of a couple of injured Cougars and making the most of his opportunity, notching seven tackles. Panero had eight tackles, a strip fumble and fumble recovery; Camacho had nine tackles to go along with his fumble recovery and touchdown.

Christensen was the leading receiver, three catches for 131 yards, as well as the leading rusher.

Escalon had five penalties for 50 yards, Livingston had three penalties for 35 yards.

“We had four starters out at Livingston,” Beam added. “Alonzo Teixeira did a great job in his first start; Eli Lattig did a great job in his first start.”

The team will need players to step up this week as well as they look to earn a share of the Trans-Valley League title. It will take a win against Hughson, coming in for Senior Night, to get it done.

The evening will feature recognition for senior players and cheerleaders, as well as a tribute to cheerleader Joana Vazquez, a senior who passed away unexpectedly earlier this month.

Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Engel Field.

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Swarming defense helped the Cougars take a Friday night road win at Livingston; they also got a pair of touchdowns from their offensive line, both on fumble recoveries. Photo By Ryann Christensen