There may not have been five laterals and there was no Stanford band on the field, but after Thursday the Sierra freshmen football team will forever have its own version of “The Play.”

Host Kimball scored with 44 seconds left to take a six-point lead in the Valley Oak League opener for both teams. The Jaguars then kicked the ball out of bounds, but instead of taking the ball at his own 37-yard line, Timberwolves coach Justin Muschott elected for a re-kick. That kick was caught by Cristopher Mortano-Monterroso inside his own 10.

 Mortano-Monterroso was smothered at the 15 but somehow managed to toss it back to teammate Marcos Castillo who darted 90 yards to tie the game. Castillo booted the extra point to give Sierra a thrilling 19-18 victory.

 The Timberwolves’ Brandon Arreola was 7 of 15 passing for 77 yards with a 1-yard scoring plunge and he threw a touchdown pass to Carlos Perez for 34 yards.

 Nashon Tamiano led the Sierra defense with 15 tackles. SesSeu Alofaituli added eight stops, Darin Gusters five and Perez four.

 

Manteca 51, Sonora 6

 

The Buffaloes’ Brian Contreras recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and then scored on the next play to make their last regular-season trip to Dunlavy Field a memorable one.  

That opening score was a 32-yard run by James Thomas, one of his three touchdowns. Thomas added a 40-yard touchdown run (on Manteca’s next play from scrimmage) and a 73-yard scoring run. Thomas set up his last touchdown run by recovering a Wildcats fumble.

The other Buffaloes touchdowns came on a 10-yard Gerson Gomez quarterback keeper, a 15-yard run by Domingo Vargas and 2-yard runs by Devin Gonzales and Alex Baker.

Sonora scored on a kickoff return late in the game.

 

Oakdale 15, East Union 14



Five trips inside the red zone produced just two scores for the Lancers on Thursday at The Corral.

Fumbles hurt East Union – the Lancers fumbled on the potential go-ahead two-point conversion and later on a punt return that would have yielded great field position.

The Lancers racked up 328 yards of offense with Jake Harries running for 100 yards, Patrick Shouland 76 and Miguel Lopez 62. Angel Sena had 72 yards passing, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Deon Mackson who also scored on a 3-yard run.

Miguel Lopez led the East Union defense with seven tackles. Jose Hernandez-Villalobos (fumble recovery) and Isaiah Cormier each had four stops.

Ripon 26, Escalon 0

 

Bryce Kinsey scored two first-quarter touchdowns for the Indians in Trans Valley League action on Thursday.

 Kinsey scored on 1- and 14-yard runs. Ripon added two more touchdowns in the third period on a 15-yard run by Ryan Wilson and a 7-yard run by Rafael Caldaza.