In his three years as head coach of the East Union High Lancers, Willie Herrera had yet to celebrate a homecoming victory.

That changed Friday as his team rolled past Kimball at Dino Cunial Field, 41-26.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” said Herrera, who was quick to credit a coaching staff led by Eddie Koeller and Jesse Guerrero for putting together the game plan against the Jaguars.

More importantly, it was a Valley Oak League win for the Lancers, who relied on a ground attack that racked up close to 300 yards, and a boost to the program.

Leading the way was sophomore quarterback Jack Weaver, who had a team-high 98 yards on seven carries including a 70-yard insurance touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He completed 10 of his 14 passes for 196 yards while throwing for three scores.

But it was Weaver’s interception that helped preserve the win for East Union (1-1, 2-3).

“Our defense rose to the occasion,” said Herrera.

Prior to the crucial point in the fourth, the Lancers had surrendered two big scoring runs to Kimball’s Jacob Taloa, who had a game-high 143 yards on five pops.

He had a 66-yard scoring run in the first quarter and a 64-yard TD in the third.

Ahead 27-26, East Union used ball control over Kimball (0-2, 1-4) through most of the second half, handing the ball off to the likes of Angel Roblero, Angel Sena, Joseph Borba and Marcus Panelo.

Sena’s 1-yard run gave the Lancers a little breathing room in the fourth, 34-26.

Kimball drove the ball inside the East Union 30 when the Lancers defense dialed it up. Dylan Tilden had a stop in the backfield and Panelo broke up a pass near the end zone.

East Union stopped the Jaguars a yard shy on fourth down.

“I was extremely happy with our guys. They didn’t give up,” Herrera said.

The Lancers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard at the outset. On the second play of the game, Weaver connected with Austin Miller on a 72-yard score.

The Jaguars tied the game on their second possession, going 53 yards on four plays capped by Rashaad Cooper’s 2-yard touchdown run.

Weaver connected with Panelo on a 77-yard pass play to set up his second scoring toss to Miller, who reeled in the 15-yard pass. Kimball quickly answered back on Taloa’s long run.

East Union then turned to its ground game with Roblero pounding the ball inside. He scored on a 3-yard run.

The Jaguars went ahead 20-19 on quarterback Malik Ransom’s 40-yard scramble.

The Lancers reclaimed the lead shortly before halftime, getting a boost from a pair of penalties. The first one was the kickoff sailing out of bound, thus, spotting East Union with ball at its own 35.

The other was pass inference which kept the drive alive. Weaver made Kimball pay by hitting Panelo on the 18-yard scoring play.