WOODLAND — The revamped Ripon High Indians continued their postseason push Friday with a 39-20 win at Pioneer.

Ripon (8-4), the No. 5-seeded team in Sac-Joaquin Section Division V, used a balanced attack led by quarterback Adam Barrera, who completed 11 of his 15 passes while tossing three touchdowns.

"It's been a lot of fun getting our passing game going," Nolan Young said. The Indians' 6-4 senior wide receiver hauled in seven passes for 124 and two scores against the No. 4 Patriots (8-2) of the Golden Empire League.

Next up is Trans-Valley League rival Escalon. The bracket’s top team toppled Woodland 39-12 to set up the rematch.

"I've been wanting to play them again since they beat us the last time," Young said.

Ripon coach Chris Musseman applauded his team's resilience against Pioneer, which wasted little time getting untracked.

The Patriots needed just four plays to find the end zone. Quarterback Ajay Lucero connected with Hector Casas on a 20-yard TD. The key to the attack was running back Jack Carner.

"I don't think we were ready for his stop-and-find-the-hole running," said Ripon defender Ethan Day.

He and the defense adjusted and eventually kept the Patriots' ground game in check.

Both teams were prone to turnovers.

"It was a sloppy game," said Musseman, who noted that yhis playoff game at times resembled that of an early season game in August.

Part of the reason could be the recent personnel changes for Ripon, which fumbled the ball away at least twice on handoffs.

"We're more balanced with the changes to our personnel," said Day, who acknowledged the efforts on the offensive line.

It was that push up front that paved the way for Caleb Johnston's 48-yard scoring jaunt to tie the game up at 7-7 in the opening quarter.

Pioneer reclaimed the lead early in the second quarter, capitalizing on an Indian turnover. Carner scored from 4 yards out.

Ripon answered back with Young and Barrera hooking up on a 19-yard score.

Jesus Ochoa's extra point gave the Indians a 14-13 lead.

Ripon took advantage of a Patriot turnover shortly before halftime, with Barrera scrambling to the Pioneer 9 with under 10 seconds left.

Barrera was quick to find Young again in the end zone as time expired, giving his team a 20-13 lead.

The Patriots tied things up early in the third as Lucero connected with Casas on a 20-yard scoring play.

But it was all Ripon after that.

On defense, Day was a terror in the Pioneer backfield while Young anchored the secondary.

Jack Manning came away with a pair of interceptions and Ryan Lefebvre also picked off a pass.

Johnston, who finished with a game-high 113 yards on nine carries, scored on runs of 17- and 2- yards. He came away with a three TD day.

Another icing on the cake for Ripon was Barrera hitting his towering 6-7 tight end Bronson Burrow on a 74-yard bomb.

And now for the rematch.