MODESTO – Two high school football programs looking to change their stars collided on Friday evening at Modesto Junior College.
While Weston Ranch and Grace Davis share the same long-lens vision for their programs, the perennial punching bags didn’t share the same care of the pigskin.
The Cougars turned the ball over six times and dug themselves a 27-point hole to start the game, forfeiting all the momentum they had built with last week’s victory.
Led by their golden boy, head coach and alumnus Tim Garcia, the Spartans made no such mistakes en route to a fourth straight win. This one was never close: Grace Davis 52, Weston Ranch 20.
For Weston Ranch, the growing pains under second-year coach Seth Davis continue. The Cougars have lost nine of 13 games under Davis, including two of three to start the 2014 campaign.
“They ran the ball down our throat, and offensively, we coughed the ball up a couple of times. When you turn the ball over, you’re not going to win,” coach Davis said. “It’s momentum. High school football games are won and lost on momentum, and they just took it to us.”
The results have been up and down for the Cougars, much like their play.
Weston Ranch was run off the field in a Week Zero loss to Franklin of Stockton, but bounced back with an encouraging performance against Galt. Mohammad Khan tossed two touchdowns and the defense forced five turnovers in a 33-20 victory.
The unbeaten Spartans presented a nice challenge. Grace Davis (4-0) has built an impressive resume of victories to start the season, highlighted by a 27-26 over Los Banos at Loftin Stadium.
In coach Davis’ eyes, a victory over Grace Davis on Friday evening would have been the perfect springboard into Valley Oak League play.
As he is learning, though, these Cougars are from perfect. Weston Ranch lost four fumbles and Khan threw two interceptions, had scoring binges of 27 and 19 points to start each half. Talolo Limus-Jones returned one fumble 65 yards for a touchdown.
Jasiah Millhouse set the tone on the game’s very first play from scrimmage, ripping off a zig-zagging, 65-yard run.
Two plays later, fullback Darin Lugo bulled his way into the end zone from the 1 to make it 7-0. Lugo would make it 14-0 on his second touch of the game. He charged through a seam in the defense for an 18-yard touchdown.
After Limus-Jones’ scoop-and-score, Millhouse notched the first of this three touchdowns with a 4-yard run off tackle. The scoring opportunity was created by cornerback Eli Correa, who picked off Khan at the 45.
Grace Davis is now 4-0 under Garcia, the former Central Valley coach who hopes to return his alma mater to the Sac-Joaquin Section postseason.
On Friday, the Spartans looked like a program ready to make that leap.
Quarterback Zach Magana has been blessed with a small cache of weapons.
Millhouse and Lugo form a nice 1-2 punch out of the backfield. Together, they combined for 136 yards on just 14 carries with five touchdowns.
At 6 feet, 5 inches, Limus-Jones is a tall target, whose speed and surprising strength translate in all three phases of the game. To that point, he was Grace Davis’ top all-around player.
Along with his fumble return, Limus-Jones had three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown – a 5-yard slant that he pulled out of Erron Duncan’s hands – and a 31-yard gain on a fake punt that extended Davis’ final scoring drive of the first half.
Tala Toilolo also had three catches for 39 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown to make it 45-7 early in the third quarter.
Magana was 9 of 10 for 126 yards, despite facing constant pressure in the first half. Weston Ranch sacked the nimble senior four times, including two by Kevin Arroyo.
“We can’t blame anybody. It wasn’t just one person. It was offense, defense and special teams, and we got outcoached,” coach Davis said. “Grace Davis and coach (Garcia) are doing a phenomenal job. He turned this program around quickly. We just have to get back to the drawing board.”
The Cougars are still trying to find their footing under their young coach. The offense averaged just a shade over 2 yards per play in the first half and at times, looked out of sorts.
And truth be told, they were. A sluggish week on the practice field was primarily to blame for the slow start.
“I don’t think we prepared mentally, Monday through Wednesday. We didn’t get after it enough,” coach Davis said. “Coming off a win, you’d think we’d be a little more hungry. But our guys just didn’t bring it all week and it clearly translated in that first half.”
Khan completed less than 50 percent of his passes with a pair of touchdowns to Marque Watson. Duncan returned two kicks for a touchdown, but only one counted.
The dynamic senior returned the opening kickoff of the second half 78 yards for a touchdown, but had the points wiped off the scoreboard by a clipping penalty.
He wouldn’t be denied a second time. Duncan bounced a return up the visitor’s sideline, where he turned on his sprinter’s speed for an 85-yard touchdown.
Weston Ranch begins VOL play next week with The Battle of I-5, its annual rivalry game with Lathrop.
“This is going to be big one for us,” coach Davis said. “Lathrop is going to be just as hungry. Hopefully, this brings our guys are up a little bit. We’re not as good as we necessarily thought; we still have to work. We can’t put anything on cruise control, especially going into the VOL.”
