Ripon has moved past the bitter loss at Hughson, but it serves as a reminder that there is still much work to do.

The Indians have since notched two runaway victories, the latest a 49-0 homecoming rout of Orestimba on Friday. These last two weeks gave Ripon (1-1, 5-1 overall) a chance to fine tune some things ahead of an unforgiving closing stretch to its Trans Valley League schedule.

“We knew we should have won that (Hughson) game, it just came down to some little stuff,” third-year Ripon lineman Tipeti Paini said. “That loss put a fire under us, and we know we should have come harder. The end of our season is big with that gauntlet coming up. That Modesto game (a 42-14 non-league win) really got us on a roll, and we just wanted to set the tone for these next games coming up.”

Paini recorded one of Ripon’s five first-half sacks, and defensive end Joshua Husband accounted for two.

The Indians avenged their 2024 loss to Orestimba (0-2, 2-4) with a complete performance. They had seven different rushers combine for 323 yards, and the defense limited the Warriors to just 2 yards. In fact, Orestimba was held to negative yardage for most of the game but go into the black on the final play — a 4-yard run from Jose Cuevas.

Special teams was also a factor, as Mike Evans returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, and Alan Aguirre was a perfect 7-for-7 on point after kicks.

“We’ve been asking them all year to come out fast — start fast, and play a full game,” Ripon coach Cole Williams said. “We had yet to play all four quarters until tonight. Usually, we’d get going and then we’d have a dip and a lull; it’s just a roller coaster. That’s what really hurt us against Hughson.”

The Indians were without leading rusher Kael Rangel (concussion) for the second straight week, but they were again able to flex their backfield depth.

Quarterback Andrew Shaw led the way, completing four of five passes for 36 yards and a short-yardage touchdown to Evans, while running four times for 45 yards and another score. Ace Dougherty had an explosive 76-yard scamper, which made up the bulk of his 123 yards. He also had a touchdown, finishing with just six carries.

Jaden Becerra (three rushes, 69 yards) scored on back-to-back drives in the third quarter, and Mason Buck punched in his first varsity TD.

“It’s really helpful to have a lot depth,” Shaw said. “We have five, six, maybe even seven guys than can all run the ball productively in any game. We give great effort, and we’re going to go out and compete every week, so it doesn’t matter who is hurt or who is out. We’re a team that’s going to come out and compete every week.”

And now the fun begins.

Ripon will have revenge in mind next week as it hosts neighboring Ripon Christian. After that are road trips to reigning state champion Sonora and longtime rival Escalon before wrapping up with another heavyweight in Hilmar back at Wes Stouffer Field.

“That’s TVL football,” Williams said. “We’re right back to work on Monday, because you know never know what is going to happen. Anybody can beat anybody on any given night, so we it’s just one week at a time.”