East Union jumped out to a 10-0 lead less than five minutes into the game Friday night but was unable to hang, on as six total touchdowns from quarterback Scout Silva helped propel Patterson to a 41-31 victory at Dino Cunial Stadium.

“Both teams made mistakes tonight, and it came down to the team that was able to capitalize on those mistakes that won the game,” East Union head coach Jason Stock said. “We had chances to put points on the board, and too many times came away empty-handed, and that just isn’t a recipe for success in this league.”

The loss is the third straight for the Lancers (0-2, 3-3) with all three losses coming to teams well positioned to make runs during the Sac Joaquin Section playoffs in November. Patterson (1-2, 4-3) came into the contest as the sixth-ranked team in Division IV just behind fifth ranked East Union.

“We knew tonight was going to be a playoff-type atmosphere,” Patterson quarterback Scout Silva said. “They are a really good team over there, and this win gives us confidence, should we see them again.”

Stock turned to junior signal caller Bryson Ybarra (11 carries, 181 yards) to lead the Lancers’ offense. The transfer from Foothill gave East Union an immediate spark, going 65 yards on the ground on the second play of the game before punching in a touchdown from 4 yards out a play later to make it 7-0 Lancers. Silva fumbled on the ensuing Tigers possession before a Yandel Gutierrez field goal made it 10-0 less than five minutes into the game.

“I put a lot of trust into (offensive coordinator) Teejay Gordon and the rest of the staff,” Stock said. “He wanted to go with Bryson tonight, and I thought he did a good job making plays with his legs and later in the game through the air to keep us in it.”

Silva and the Tigers would answer back with two of his six scores in the game in the final six minutes of the first quarter. The junior first found sophomore wide receiver and Division I prospect Giovonni Jefferson from 13 yards out before hitting Eastern Washington commit Jace Johnson from the tight end position from 35 yards out to make it 17-14 Lancers heading into the second quarter.

“Honestly, I was mad at myself after making a few mistakes early on,” Silva said. “I think that made me play with a chip on my shoulder, and luckily, we were able to get the offense going against a good defense.”

Silva scored his first rushing touchdown midway through the second quarter to give Patterson its first lead. The lead would not last long, however, as Ybarra went untouched for 70 yards on a keeper on the very next play from scrimmage to put East Union up 24-21.

The East Union defense came up with big plays throughout the game, but made things difficult on itself committing nine penalties, many of which extended Tigers’ drives. Fifty yards in penalties propelled Patterson on a 14 play 80-yard drive that took up nearly six minutes of game time late in the first half. After a Pass Interference on fourth and 13 extended the drive, Silva found Caden Lozano from 14 yards out to give the tigers a 27-24 lead at the half.

East Union recovered an onside kick to start the second half, but after driving deep into Patterson territory came away with zero points after a botched snap led to a missed Gutierrez field goal attempt. Silva and the Tigers came up big again this time going 80 yards in 11 plays capped by the second touchdown pass to Johnson (5 catches, 58 yards) to push the lead to double digits for Patterson.

While having a huge night on the ground, Ybarra kept East Union in the game with his arm going 17 for 26 for 142 yards through the air. The Lancers quarterback found five different receivers in the game including five completions for 58 yards to sophomore wide receiver Austin Lee. After getting the Lancers back into the red zone down 10, Ybarra dropped back and scrambled 19 yards for his third rushing touchdown of the evening to cut the score to three late in the third quarter.

East Union got the stop it needed on the next possession and took over on the Patterson 40-yard line after a short punt. The Patterson defense would come up big themselves however, forcing a fourth down incompletion from Ybarra to get the ball back to the Tigers. Silva and the rest of the offensive unit then put the game away going 68 yards over six minutes of game time capped by Silva himself going in for touchdown number six from 21 yards out to put the game away for Patterson.

“We know if we give the ball back to them there the game could go differently,” Silva said. “Credit to the guys up front they did a good job creating holes and we were able to grind them down a bit.”

Things don’t get any easier in Valley Oak League play for the 0-2 Lancers as Oakdale comes to town next week.

“No one knows more than I do what we’re facing next week,” Stock said. “They have things going in the right direction over there and that program is always going to compete no matter their record or what anyone says about them.”

East Union will get its shot at its first league win and a huge boost in the Division IV rankings at 7 p.m. on Friday.