East Union’s sophomore football team made it clear from the start what it was going to try and do at Lathrop High Friday.
“Our goal was to pound the ball,” Squires coach Ron Clayton said. “We exceeded our goal by leaps and bounds.”
Victor Lopez and Nic McGill combined to rush for nearly 350 yards, and East Union’s defense dominated in a 40-0 triumph on Lathrop’s homecoming night.
Lopez carried the ball 17 times and accumulated 213 yards and a touchdown. Nic McGill needed just eight attempts to erupt for 133 yards and two TDs.
Quarterback Jake Danhoff was less involved as a passer as he had been all season, completing just one of four passes. The one completion, however, went for a 33-yard touchdown to Clay Cuneo.
Defensively, the Squires (1-0 Valley Oak League, 3-0 overall) allowed just 51 total yards. Freshman Cody Keener jumped a slant route for his second pick of the season.
East Union will celebrate its own homecoming next Friday when it plays host to rival Sierra.
Manteca 26, Kimball 14
The defense provided a big spark in the early going, as Matt Wilkerson ran back a pick-6 25 yards to close the Buffaloes in, 7-6.
All of the Buffaloes’ points came in succession, as Kimball would not answer until late in the fourth quarter.
Backup signal caller Brandon Dabney hit Alex Garlets for an 88-yard pass play and ran in the 20-point conversion for a 14-7 halftime lead for Manteca (1-0, 3-0).
Dabney — filling in for usual starter Buddy Reeder — finished 3 for 10 with 108 yards, and all of his completed passes went to Garlets. Michael Gonsalez rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown on 19 tries, while Alex Laural contributed 120 yards on 10 carries. Elijah Cooper contributed a 9-yard touchdown run.
“A great team effort,” Manteca coach Adam Liel said. “We had a lot of new players step up and lead us tonight.”
Sierra 15, Oakdale 6
The Timberwolves (1-0, 3-1) opened VOL play with a big statement, beating perennial contender Oakdale on the road.
Coach Dan Duke said the team did it with defense, which was led by Aaron Thiel, Chuck Good, Reid Maestas, Anthony Cervantez, Keano Calderon and Isaac Gutierrez.
Jake Pruitt threw two touchdown passes to Dakots Conners and capped Sierra’s scoring with a 2-point conversion pass to Jonathon Munkholm.
