HILMAR — Two fourth-quarter turnovers stymied any chance of the Ripon Knights novice remaining undefeated and claiming the Trans-Valley Youth Football League Championship on Saturday, as the Modesto Rams eked out a 13-6 win at McSweeney Field to claim the Super Bowl trophy.
Gavin Decena (20 carries, 62 yards) got Ripon within 7-6 in the second quarter on a 7-yard run. Mason Durao, Gavin Decena, Anthony Alves, Landon Corcoran, Kaeo Sanchez and Jax Booth also contributed to the Knights offense.
Durao had seven tackles and recovered an onside kick as well as a fumble. Booth added five tackles, Decena and David Rowe four each with Booth, Corcoran, Sanchez, Drew Walker, Cody Foster and Alexander Rader adding three stops each. Zander Rivera forced a fumble.
DYF Novice
Manteca Chargers 19,
Tracy Volunteers 6
The Chargers scored a touchdown in the second and third quarter to pull away and win the South Conference championship for a berth in the Super Bowl on Sunday at Bear Creek High School in Stockton.
Dom Roa scored two touchdowns for Manteca and Michael Torio one.
Roa made nine tackles with Adriel Cooks (fumble recovery) and Torio getting five apiece.
DYF Jr. Novice
Tracy Raiders 27,
Chargers 20 (OT)
The Chargers fought back from a 13-0 first quarter deficit to tie the game and shut out the Raiders through regulation only to be outscored in the fifth quarter.
Tobias Cox got Manteca on the board in the second quarter with his score being set up by Josaiah Law-Lartigue’s near-60 yard run. In the third quarter Zack Behrbaum reeled off a 35-yard run leading to a touchdown for Law-Lartigue.
Junior Evans tallied 12 tackles with Law-Lartigue, Behrbaum and Jamie Buchanan (fumble recovery) each adding five tackles.