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EU frosh end perfect season with VOL title
MON frosh piox
East Unions Dezmin Ware runs away from Mantecas Uso Taamu on the way to a 51-yard touchdown run in a 21-14 Lancers win for the Valley Oak League freshmen championship Thursday at Dino Cunial Field. - photo by DAVE CAMPBELL/ The Bulletin

In a battle for the Valley Oak League championship, Dezmin Ware raced for three East Union touchdowns and the Lancers held off a late charge by visiting Manteca on Thursday and defeated the Buffaloes 21-14 at Dino Cunial Field to finish the season with a perfect 10-0 record. 

 “It was a great game for the boys,” Lancers coach Dan Coffman said. “They played hard.” 

 ”It’s not easy to go 10-0 in the VOL. This team scored 392 Points this year and only gave up 58  with six shutouts. I am proud to be their coach.”

Ware got things going for East Union (7-0 VOL, 10-0 overall) with a 43-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. 

 The two teams each scored a touchdown in the first half’s final 29 seconds. Jorge Cedano (5 of 15 passing, 136 yards, touchdown, interception) hit Nick Creighton (12 carries, 50 yards) with a 20-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds left in the second period to draw Manteca (6-1, 8-2) within 7-6. 

 The Lancers answered back when Ware pulled in a short pass from JoJo Espinosa and raced to the goal line, breaking multiple tackles along the way for a 55-yard scoring play and a 15-6 halftime lead.

 With 5:18 remaining in the game, Creighton ran in a 6-yard score and also the conversion to bring the Buffaloes within 15-14.

 Ware had one more arrow left in his quiver, and following an onside-kick attempt by Manteca he raced 51 yards on the next play to put East Union ahead 21-14. 

But Manteca was not done. On their final drive facing fourth and five from deep in their own territory, Jorge Cedano hit Tarjnot Singh with a 40-yard pass to get the Buffaloes to the Lancers 35-yard line. 

With time running out Espinosa intercepted a last-gasp attempt, sealing the win and the storybook season for East Union.

Frank Delgado had three receptions for 60 yards for Manteca. Tyler Elks had six tackles for the Buffaloes. Uso Taamu added five stops and Geo Alvarez three. 

Tealon Gaines caused a fumble for the Lancers and teammate Andrew Mount recovered it.

Sierra 44,

WestonRanch 0

 The visiting Timberwolves held the Cougars to negative yardage behind eight sacks by Elijah White, Joseph Tarango, Isaiah Lee, Eric Barron and Myson Hosmer. 

 Carlos Tovar and Damien Simon had interceptions for Sierra (4-3, 6-3-1).

With the Timberwolves defense being stingy, the Sierra offense ran wild for more than 450 yards. Jose Ceja got the ball rolling for the Timberwolves by recovering an onside kick to start the game. Miguel Sequiera threw two touchdown passes to Joseph Tarango in the first quarter,  totaling the first 97 passing yards of the game.

James Taylor scored on a run and hit Ricardo Villalobos with a 53-yard touchdown pass. Justin Diaz had a 36-yard touchdown run and Ceja had a touchdown run.