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Balanced rushing attack anchors Ripon Chiefs
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RIPON — The Ripon Chiefs varsity team used its balanced ground assault and stifling defense to pound the Mountain House Panthers in a 26-0 victory in Trans Valley Youth Football League action at Ripon High Saturday.

The Chiefs had four different rushers score, including quarterback Chase DePrue. DePrue capped the offensive barrage with a 9-yard keeper in the third quarter, and later a touchdown toss to Jace McFetridge.

Michael Morris’ 45-yard run set up Troy Burth’s 1-yard score in the first quarter. Marcus Patterson’s 12-yard scamper into the end zone came after Josh Clark’s 25-yard rush. Ripon preserved the shutout with Patterson causing a fumble to end the first half.

Marcus Bartels opened second-half scoring with a 1-yard run. Adrian Gunter and Davis Armstrong also turned in strong efforts from the Ripon backfield.

Raiders 14, Cowboys 0
At Big Valley Christian in Modesto, the Manteca Cowboys suffered their first National Youth Football League San-Stan Section loss of the season.

Things started badly for Manteca, as both of its starting running backs exited the game with leg injuries on the first play from scrimmage. The defense did its best to keep the team in it, as the Modesto Raiders scored late in the first quarter and again in the fourth.

Despite the loss, the Cowboys already have a No. 1 playoff seed locked up and will end the regular season this Saturday at Manteca High against the Ceres Raptors.

JUNIOR VARSITY

Rebels 12, Cougars 8
At East Union High’s Dino Cunial Field Saturday, the Delta Rebels knocked off the reigning Delta Youth Football League South Conference champions from Tracy behind an outstanding defensive effort.

Chad Ott led the charge with three receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown on offense to go with six tackles and a sack on defense. Josh Sanchez led the ground attack with 59 yards and a score, while causing a fumble on the defensive end.

Quarterback Devin Nunez ran for 54 yards and led the defense with seven tackles. Bobby Guillen and Frankie Lopez helped seal the win in the fourth quarter, when they each picked off a pass. Zach Hendriz and Mario Maher chipped in four tackles apiece.

The Rebels will celebrate Homecoming against rival Manteca Chargers Saturday at East Union.

Cowboys 20, Raiders 0
The Manteca Cowboys continued their Sac-Stan Section dominance in the NYFL with their eighth shutout in nine contests.

It didn’t take long for the Cowboys to strike, as Jonathan Montoya returned the opening kickoff 77 yards for the first points of the game. Nicholas Lucchetti gave Manteca a 13-0 first-quarter lead with a 13-yard run, and Dionicio Samoy’s 74-yard touchdown scamper in the second represented the game’s final score.

Lucchetti finished with 97 yards on eight rushes and nine tackles to lead the victory.

Nathaniel Arriola registered 13 tackles and two sacks to spearhead the defense, which also had contributions from Alberto Loaiza (11 tackles), Justin Scoz (sack), Pawl Johnson (five tackles, two sacks), Demaurier Blackwell (nine tackles, two sacks), Alejandro Loaiza (seven tackles)  and Adrian Rodriguez (sack).

Chiefs 53, Panthers 0
Nicholas Navarro punched in the first of four first-quarter touchdowns for the Ripon Chiefs and would end up converting four 2-point conversion kicks.

Quarterback Dwight Johnson was in on two of those early scores, first on the run, then on a pass to Trent Murphy. Drake Vizcarra capped the first-quarter barrage with a touchdown run.

Luke Robison set up his own touchdown scamper in the second quarter by intercepting a pass. Adolfo Sanchez posted Ripon’s final TD from scrimmage, and Cody Haines, who had a fumble recovery earlier in the contest, recovered a kickoff in the end zone for six points.

Jacob Rhodes recovered a fumble, and Jordan Satterlee contributed an interception.

Falcons 34, Jaguars 8
At Atwater High, Lechi Nkwocha scored the Manteca Jaguars’ lone touchdown and finished with 21 carries for 139 yards, but it wasn’t enough in the Central California Conference contest. Nkwocha also had six tackles and a sack on defense.

Other notable performances for Manteca (2-3, 4-4 overall) came from Edward Gomez (forced fumble), Mark Paule (five tackles), Julian Diaz (four tackles), Anthony Palomarez (sack, fumble recovery), Miles Phillips (sack), Bryce Ison (four tackles, forced fumble) and Angel Villalobos (blocked PAT).

Outlaws 45,
Jr. Buffaloes 6

At Escalon High, the Jr. Buffaloes ended TVYFL action with a loss, but not before Angel Perez scored the team’s final touchdown with a 95-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.

Manteca was held to just 66 yards of total offense from scrimmage, as the Escalon Outlaws amassed 22 points in the second quarter to break it open.

Jake Bechtel led the defense with five tackles, and Philip Bledsoe had four tackles and two sacks. Shaeen Argand added 4.5 tackles and a sack. Perez chipped in an interception.

ROOKIES/NOVICE

Chargers 55, Vikings 0

The Manteca Chargers rung up eight touchdowns for the second time in three games at Sierra High Saturday. LaDondi Ceaser led the way with four rushing touchdowns and close to 200 yards.

The Modesto Vikings also had to contend with Johnny Blackwell, who ran in three scores and three point-after conversions. Marcus Rivas added a TD and three conversion runs to the total.

Jonathan Shaefer sparked the Chargers defensively with four sacks, outside linebacker Nathan Noble finished with three and Juan Gomez pitched in one.

Chiefs 46, Panthers 6
Ripon had a different player score each touchdown, with Luke Navarro, Zachary Bailey, Logan Orlando, Aaron Paschini and Zachary Angel finding payrdirt.

The game ended with Marcello Longstreth recovering a fumble. R.J. Davis and Bailey stood out on the defensive end.

Cougars 45, Rebels 0
The Delta Rebels offense struggled all game, as Derek Range (28 yards) was the only player to finish with positive yardage.

Matthew VanHook paced the defense with six tackles, Anthony Rosales turned in five and Emilio Anaya added four to go with an interception.

Cowboys 32, Raiders 6
It only took Darrin Young and Seuseu Alofatuli 17 combined touches to put it away for the Manteca Cowboys. Young finished with 165 yards on seven rushes and also had a reception go for 35 yards while punching in two scores. Defensively, he recorded five tackles, two pass deflections and sack.

Alofatuli toted the football nine times for 75 yards and three TDs. He led the defense with 11 stops and three sacks.

Other Cowboy standouts include: Devin Young (four tackles, three pass deflections), Angle Sena (touchdown, five tackles), Joseph Dunham (10 tackles, sack) and Junior Rodriguez (four tackles, fumble recovery).

JR. NOVICE/STARTS

Jaguars vs. Falcons
Kameron Deweerd (nine tackles), Angel Garay (eight tackles), Jaylen Jackson (seven tackles) and Alfonso Acuna (three tackles, sack) starred on defense for the Jaguars, who finished with three scores to Atwater’s two.

Rebels vs. Cougars
Daron Nourn piled up 168 rushing yards for Delta, while Eric Morales led the defense with six tackles and an interception. Kobe Salas forced a fumble, Daniel Morales recovered one and Xavier Grimaldo was in on a sack.

Cowboys 18, Raiders 12
Anthony Martinez rushed 13 times for 137 yards, while Eric Nascimento (two touchdowns) and Manuel Guerrero (touchdown) found paydirt to lead the Manteca Cowboys.

Presley DeMello helped Manteca preserve the victory on the defensive end, finishing with 12 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery. Justin Scoz chimed in with six stops, Ethan Taylor recovered a fumble and D.J. King recorded a sack.

— Jonamar Jacinto