With one of its top playmakers sidelined by an injury, River Islands rallied past host Summerville with a dominant second half on the way to a needed 37-17 bounce-back win last Friday.

Standout receiver/safety Darien East played sparingly with a balky hamstring during the Riptide’s lopsided loss to Calaveras in a Mother Lode League opener on Sept. 25. His absence may have been felt early on in Tuolumne, as the Bears (1-1 MLL, 1-5 overall) took a 17-10 lead at halftime.

River Islands (1-1, 5-1) showed off the rest of its arsenal, scoring 27 unanswered points over the final two periods with senior quarterback Daryl Carpenter leading the charge,

The senior completed passes to eight different receivers, finishing 31 of 38 for 319 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Mikey Figueroa the top target with nine receptions, 93 yards and two touchdowns. He also had four tackles and four pass break-ups on defense.

Amadeo Erilim broke out with seven catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. Christian Dell O’Osso contributed 63 yards and five receptions.

Second-year junior running back Prince Presley set personal records across the board with 10 rushes, 103 yards and two touchdowns, to go with two receptions spanning 25 yards.

Defensive back Jayden Yong paced the defense with eight tackles and intercepted a pass early in the fourth quarter that helped keep put the game away. Edge rusher Isaiah Sanchez contributed seven tackles, including three for losses and a sack.

The Riptide next hosts Riverbank (0-2, 2-3) on Friday.

Central Catholic 41, East Union 7

The Lancers (0-1, 3-2 overall) had a tough match-up in Modesto to begin Valley Oak League play.

Central Catholic (2-0, 5-1) used a balanced attack starring 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back Zymir Nelson (176 yards, 11.7 per carry, three TDs and junior quarterback Cruz Costa (15 of 24, 214, two TDs), who helped coach Roger Canepa collect his Sac-Joaquin Section-leading 300th career win.

East Union did not score until the fourth quarter, when Bryson Ybarra (5 of 18, 126 yards, two interceptions) connected with Gunnar Fay (six receptions, 105 yards) for a 65-yard touchdown.

Jesse Martinez led the Lancers defense with eight tackles.

EU is back home for its next two games, both with big postseason implications. First up is a meeting with Patterson (0-2, 3-3).

Hughson 35, Ripon 21

Ripon (0-2, 2-4 overall) could not slow down sophomore QB Hunter Baldwin (18 of 25, 265 yards, four TDs) and tight end Titus Beers (seven receptions, 191 yards, two TDs) in the Trans Valley League showdown.

The visiting Huskies (1-0, 4-1) overall also piled up 142 yards on the ground.

Andrew Shaw hit Gavin Duran for a 73-yard touchdown to get Ripon on the board in the third quarter, but Hughson was still ahead, 14-7. Shaw added a 72-yard rushing touchdown later in the period, and Jacoby Salinas capped scoring for Ripon with an eight, yard rush.