SCORING SUMMARY
Modesto 0 0 6 0 – 6
Sierra 20 7 0 0 – 27
First quarter
S – Darien East 18 run (run fail), 9:17
S – Aydan Michael Roura 16 interception return (Vareho Zingkhai kick), 7:02
S – D.J. Shepherd 2 pass from Jaysen Martinez (Zingkhai kick), 4:49
Second quarter
S
– A.J. Chapman 4 pass from Martinez (Zingkhai kick), 1:59
Third quarter
M – Izzy Ceniceros 52 run (pass fail), 10:29
Sierra scored four first-half touchdowns Friday night but went scoreless in the second half, as the Timberwolves picked up their first win of the season with a 27-6 dispatching of visiting Modesto in a non-league football tilt at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.
“We came out with a lot of emotion and definitely a lot of fire,” Sierra coach Jeff Abrew said. “I felt the momentum changed when we lost our tackle (Angel Land), and we couldn’t get the momentum going on offense again.
“Our defense played great all night. Offensively, we made a lot of mistakes that we will have to clean up next week.”
Darien East was the workhorse for the Timberwolves (1-2), gaining 80 yards on 13 carries with an 18-yard touchdown run barely three minutes into the game to start the scoring.
“I think tonight was a smooth run for our team,” East said. “We needed this momentum.
“We came out here with a chip on our shoulder from the last two weeks, and we had confidence and power and it showed on the scoreboard. I am happy for our team.”
Two minutes later, Aydan Michael Roura stepped in front of a Panthers pass and returned it 16 yards to put the Timberwolves up, 13-0.
“I wasn’t cleared until today,” Roura said. “I was just excited to be back playing the game I love.”
Jaysen Martinez (5 of 9 passing, 43 yards, two touchdowns) would add a pair of touchdown passes before halftime of 2 yards to D.J. Shepherd and 4 yards to A.J. Chapman.
Teagan Nazzisi was a two-way standout on the line for Sierra and spent a fair amount of time in the Modesto backfield disrupting its offense.
“I think it was a dogfight,” Nazzisi said. “We came in that first half and straight dominated. Our offensive line, receivers, quarterback along with the coaches calling good plays we kept it going.”
Damian Densmore had a defensive highlight in the third quarter when Timberwolves teammate Mateo Munoz blew up the Panthers ball carrier, causing the ball to spurt out for Densmore to grab in mid-air.
“I saw their guy’s arms go straight up, and I told myself I had to go get that ball,” Densmore said. “And it came down right in my hands.
“I wanted to take it for six, but I slipped.”
Modesto (2-1) got on the board early in the third period when Izzy Ceniceros (23 carries, 95 yards) scampered 52 yards for a touchdown.
