MANTECA – Late in the second quarter Thursday Matt Wilkerson got a bit more than the 8 yards he needed for a first down when he lumbered 36 yards for a touchdown to give the Manteca freshmen the lead for good in a 22-8 Valley Oak League football victory over Kimball at Guss Schmiedt Field.
The second-quarter scoring run by Wilkerson (12 carries, 102 yards) gave the Buffaloes a 16-8 lead. Despite the Panthers controlling the ball for all but three plays in the third quarter, they were not able to find the end zone in the second half.
Wilkerson added another score on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter and Michael Gonzalez (11 carries, 78 yards) scored the first touchdown for Manteca on an 8-yard run in the first quarter.
“Not scoring when given the chance would come back a bite us,” Sierra coach Walt Brookshire said. “But defensively, we had a great game. Aaron Theil and Keano Calderon were in the back field of Oakdale causing havoc.
“Offensively, we need to score when given the opportunity at hand. We moved the ball up and down the field but did not execute when it counted the most.”
Jake Pruitt hit Robert Cejas with a 22-yard scoring pass early in the second quarter to spot the Timberwolves to a 7-0 lead.
The punishing run game of Garrett DeVillianueva (five carries, 50 yards) set up a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Pruitt with 4:07 left in the game to give Sierra a 14-7 lead. The Mustangs scored with 2:02 left and successfully executed a conversion pass for the one-point lead. Sierra mounted one last threat, but on fourth down a long pass went just off the hands of Dakota Conners, ensuring victory for Oakdale.
Rainey (nine carries, 147 yards) scored on runs of 10 and 68 yards and Johnson returned the second-half kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown and ran in a score from 12 yards out. Mason Romo’s 43-yard touchdown scamper and a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Johnny Barajas rounded out the Lathrop scoring parade.
Rainey was in on 12 tackles and teammates Gerald Ray made nine and Devante Johnson five for a defense that held the Lancers to 10 rushing yards.
“This group is really starting to come together,” Spartans coach Dwayne Davis said, “They play fast and physical. We can make adjustments in between plays now without them having that deer-in-the-headlights look they had when they first hit campus this summer.”
East Union’s Joe Menzel was 8 for 13 passing for 69 yards.
Khali Browder’s direction at quarterback led to three long-second half drives which abruptly came to an end when running Juliese Batieste suffered a broken leg.
“The game ended with mixed feelings for us,” Weston Ranch coach Nathan Moore said. “We were disappointed with the final score and the loss of such a great teammate but the arrival of Khali Browder at quarterback position gave some new life to the offense.”
Chris Cliatt scored the lone Cougars touchdown on a 5-yard run. Browder passed for 40 yards. Anthony Bench rushed for 50.
The second-quarter scoring run by Wilkerson (12 carries, 102 yards) gave the Buffaloes a 16-8 lead. Despite the Panthers controlling the ball for all but three plays in the third quarter, they were not able to find the end zone in the second half.
Wilkerson added another score on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter and Michael Gonzalez (11 carries, 78 yards) scored the first touchdown for Manteca on an 8-yard run in the first quarter.
Oakdale 15, Sierra 14
The Timberwolves led late in the fourth quarter and threatened at the end of the game but were edged by the host Mustangs.“Not scoring when given the chance would come back a bite us,” Sierra coach Walt Brookshire said. “But defensively, we had a great game. Aaron Theil and Keano Calderon were in the back field of Oakdale causing havoc.
“Offensively, we need to score when given the opportunity at hand. We moved the ball up and down the field but did not execute when it counted the most.”
Jake Pruitt hit Robert Cejas with a 22-yard scoring pass early in the second quarter to spot the Timberwolves to a 7-0 lead.
The punishing run game of Garrett DeVillianueva (five carries, 50 yards) set up a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Pruitt with 4:07 left in the game to give Sierra a 14-7 lead. The Mustangs scored with 2:02 left and successfully executed a conversion pass for the one-point lead. Sierra mounted one last threat, but on fourth down a long pass went just off the hands of Dakota Conners, ensuring victory for Oakdale.
Lathrop 40, East Union 0
Kevin Rainey and Devante Johnson combined for four touchdowns for the Spartans who scored in every quarter Thursday.Rainey (nine carries, 147 yards) scored on runs of 10 and 68 yards and Johnson returned the second-half kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown and ran in a score from 12 yards out. Mason Romo’s 43-yard touchdown scamper and a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Johnny Barajas rounded out the Lathrop scoring parade.
Rainey was in on 12 tackles and teammates Gerald Ray made nine and Devante Johnson five for a defense that held the Lancers to 10 rushing yards.
“This group is really starting to come together,” Spartans coach Dwayne Davis said, “They play fast and physical. We can make adjustments in between plays now without them having that deer-in-the-headlights look they had when they first hit campus this summer.”
East Union’s Joe Menzel was 8 for 13 passing for 69 yards.
Sonora 36, Weston Ranch 8
After a sluggish first half, the Cougars found some momentum in the second half but it was cut short by disaster.Khali Browder’s direction at quarterback led to three long-second half drives which abruptly came to an end when running Juliese Batieste suffered a broken leg.
“The game ended with mixed feelings for us,” Weston Ranch coach Nathan Moore said. “We were disappointed with the final score and the loss of such a great teammate but the arrival of Khali Browder at quarterback position gave some new life to the offense.”
Chris Cliatt scored the lone Cougars touchdown on a 5-yard run. Browder passed for 40 yards. Anthony Bench rushed for 50.
