SALIDA — Jarad Mora was the first of three Modesto Christian defenders to pile on top of East Union quarterback Aaron Ramos in the end zone as time expired in Friday’s nonleague tilt at Roy Blakeley Field.

The Crusader defensive back signaled for the safety. He didn’t get it.

They’ll just have to settle for the 31-6 victory.

That is the way a brutal nonleague schedule ended for the Lancers (0-3), who roll into next week’s Valley Oak League opener with Lathrop having played, and lost to, Stockton juggernaut St. Mary’s, undefeated Orestimba and the always-competitive Crusaders (2-2).

To their credit, the Lancers battled tough over the final three quarters when they were outscored 12-6. The heavy damage was done in the opening frame, when Modesto Christian shot out to a 19-0 lead while holding the Lancers to three three-and-out drives and forcing a turnover.

The Crusaders were without Damien Bell-White, their gifted 6-foot-4 receiver.

It didn’t matter.

Modesto Christian went to the ground early and often. Running back JaVaughn Iversen himself nearly matched East Union’s total offensive yardage (174) with 152 yards and two scores on 13 carries. Six different rushers combined for 361 yards.

Another 98 yards were racked up through the air, as QB Zack Megee completed all four of his passes for 39 yards including a 1-yard TD strike to tight end Zach O’Leary. That put MC up 31-0 with 6:55 left in the third quarter. Anthony Brooks also got in on the action in the passing game, completing a 59-yard touchdown pass to Andre Edwards on a halfback pass in the opening quarter.

East Union didn’t score until late in the third when Ramos rambled in from 16 yards out on a quarterback keeper. The two-point conversion attempt failed as he completed a pass to Eddie Daube, who was stopped at the 1-yard line. The scoring sequence capped an impressive series in which the Lancers converted three fourth-down plays and went 74 yards in 5 minutes, 27 seconds.

The Lancer offense began to show life in the second quarter. Sophomore QB Lucas Garcia hit Jack Zellar for a 16-yard pass that resulted in EU’s first first down, and another 15 yards was tacked on thanks to a facemask penalty.

Running back Mark Aguilar (13 rushes, 76 yards) scampered 36 yards down to the Crusaders’ 13 on the next play. After a Modesto Christian timeout, Garcia lobbed it up to Zeller in the end zone but was picked off by Brooks.

On East Union’s next drive, which was highlighted by a 24-yard pass play from Garcia to Aguilar, placekicker Jordan Kron was set to attempt a 40-yard field goal. He never got the kick off, as a bad snap led to Garcia throwing an incomplete pass.

East Union’s defense played well the rest of the way, recording three sacks and forcing two turnovers on fumbles.