The Escalon Youth Cougars were able to clean house on Saturday, Oct. 7 when they faced off against the Hughson Huskies. All four squads won their games as so they did this past weekend against the Linden Lions. The scores for the Hughson games were: Junior Novice EYC 12, Huskies 6; Novice EYC 7, Huskies 6; Junior Varsity EYC 14, Huskies 12; Varsity EYC 36, Huskies 6.

Junior Novice

The Escalon Youth Cougars’ stellar defense was a driving force in this exciting contest at Linden. Sebastian Martinez made an impact with two crucial tackles, while Wesley Ramirez, Hunter Jones, and Nathaniel Cruz also contributed to the solid defensive performance with one tackle each. Grady Johnson demonstrated his defensive prowess by making an astounding four tackles, and Zackariah Doty was an absolute force to be reckoned with, racking up an impressive five tackles throughout the game.

Hunter Walker, another standout performer, showed his mettle with a remarkable six tackles. Sebastian Coronado displayed his defensive capabilities as well, contributing three tackles to the team’s efforts. Additionally, Doty made a key fumble recovery, and Martinez added to the excitement with a fumble recovery of his own. Doty further cemented his role as a game-changer with a dazzling touchdown.

In the offensive department, Walker stole the spotlight with two touchdowns, leading the Cougars to their impressive final score. 21-7. This will end the successful season for the youngest Cougars finishing with a record of 7-2 as there are no playoffs for this level of football.

Novice

Andres Jimenez was a standout on the defensive front, making an impressive four tackles. Jax Teixeira, Cruz Pacheco, and Brodi Moorman each put in a commendable effort with their tackles, registering one tackle, three tackles, and three tackles, respectively. Liam Lombardi and Trenton Kjellberg contributed significantly as well, with two tackles each. Antonio Brunetti, Landyn Bettencourt, Jase Govia, Logan Lanza, and Eric Cardenas also made crucial tackles during the game, showing their commitment to the team’s defensive efforts.

Josiah Canela shone on the field with two tackles and played a vital role in keeping the Lions at bay. Landon Machado was a force to be reckoned with, delivering three tackles and a remarkable touchdown that sent the crowd into a frenzy. His touchdown was a pivotal moment in the game, and his performance was a true game-changer.

The Escalon Youth Cougars’ defense was relentless, ensuring that the Linden Lions were held to just six points. The final score of 7-6 in favor of Escalon showcased the Cougars’ resilience and determination. The Novice squad ended the regular season with a record of 7-2 and will face the Argonaut Junior Mustangs in the first round of the playoffs at Linden High School this Saturday, Oct. 21.

JV

Defensively Becket Trimble, Ryker Lial and Nixon Walker led the way with an impressive four tackles, closely followed by Gavin Decroix with three tackles. Jameson Kuykendall and Mason Rodriguez contributed two tackles each. Kaleb Butler, Jaxon Kemp, Drake Munoz, and Julian Cruz also made significant contributions to the Cougars’ defensive effort. Ivan Valencia and Cru Herrera registered one tackle each, while Brayden Merrill and Lucas Machado notched three tackles apiece. Despite the determined efforts of the Lions’ defense, the Cougars managed to break through for three crucial touchdowns.

On the offensive side of the field, the Escalon Youth Cougars showcased their versatility and scoring ability. Easton Hunt, Lial, and Machado each scored one touchdown, displaying their speed and agility. Final score EYC 21, Linden 14. The Junior Varsity team finished the regular season with a record of 7-2 and will face the Waterford Saber Cats in the first round of the playoffs at Hughson High School. The Sabercats stole a win from the Cougars in overtime by converting the extra point during their regular season matchup and the Cougars will get their chance for revenge.

Varsity

The defensive unit of the Cougars proved to be a force to be reckoned with, demonstrating an exceptional level of teamwork and determination on the field. The relentless defensive efforts were led by four players who each recorded four tackles, namely Ian Trejo, Carter Yates, Leo Marrufo, and Ryan Huebner. Noah Gonsalves and Carter Cummings also made significant contributions with three tackles each. Kolten Kjellberg added two tackles to the mix, while Adam Cordeiro, Joey Calcagno, Alec Lopez, Dylan Ball, and Jake Ferreira each notched one tackle. The defensive highlights didn’t end with tackles alone; Trejo and Kjellberg showcased their exceptional skill by recovering fumbles.

The Cougars’ offense also displayed their power and versatility on the field. Dylan Ball proved to be a standout player with two touchdowns, while Ferreira and Ryan Looney each added one touchdown to the scoreboard. Cummings and Yates were not to be outdone, with one touchdown and two touchdowns respectively. Final Score EYC 52, Linden 0. The Varsity team finished out the season with a perfect record of 9-0. They will face the Calaveras Reds in Angels Camp this weekend for the first round of playoffs.

This article was contributed by Alonzo Trejo on behalf of the EYC program.