SCORING SUMMARY
Calaveras 0 0 7 0 — 7
Ripon 14 7 6 7 — 34
First quarter
R — Jack Manning 3 run (Ricky Ochoa kick), 5:44
R — Caleb Johnston 5 run (Ochoa kick), 4:02
Second quarter
R — Manning 9 run (Ochoa kick), 8:05
Third quarter
C — Braeden Orlandi 19 pass from Travis Byrd (Jake Hopper kick), 8:34
R — Nolan Young 12 pass from Dylan DeGraff (kick fail), 2:07
Fourth quarter
R — Caleb Johnston 3 run (Ochoa kick), 4:15
RIPON — Ripon jumped out to a three-touchdown, first-half lead Friday night and then took the foot off the gas on the way to a 34-7 non-league win over visiting Calaveras of San Andreas at Stouffer Field.
The Indians ground out 41 running plays as opposed to 17 passing plays.
“Our identity as a team is to run the ball,” Ripon coach Chris Musseman said. “We are not a passing team. We took an opportunity at the end of the first half to work on some passing stuff because we know down the road there will be times in games when we need that.
“We came out in the second half and got back to running and we were fine. By the time we got to the fourth quarter there was no reason to pile anything on. We just wanted to burn the clock, get out of here and be as healthy as we can.”
The Indians (2-2) took a 21-0 halftime lead with 5- and 9-yard scoring runs by Jack Manning (12 carries, 80 yards) and a 5-yard touchdown run by Caleb Johnston (12 carries, 59 yards). Johnston capped the night’s scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
“We played great on each side of the ball,” Johnston said. “For the most part, outside of a few offensive mistakes, we executed will on offense and our defense was physical. We dominated them.”
Daniel Espinoza was an iron man for Ripon, leading the team with six tackles along with 103 yards on 13 carries.
“I think we played great, especially on defense,” Espinoza said. “Everyone did good. It is a team effort. Everyone has a role.
“Offensively, we have some areas we need to improve in if we want to make the playoffs.”
The Indians got their other score on a 12-yard pass from Dylan DeGraff (8 of 14 passing, 109 yards) to Nolan Young (three receptions, 60 yards).
Young recovered two fumbles and forced one to help the Ripon defense that held Calaveras to just 56 total yards. Ethan Day (forced fumble) and Leovanni Ochoa added four tackles each and Camryn Arriola recovered a fumble.
Calaveras (1-3) only suited up 17 players.
“That’s all we have,” Calaveras coach Doug Clark said. “We played 48 minutes as hard as we could go.”
