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Ripon Knights take down Seahawks
Ripon Knights take down Seahawks
Ripon Knights junior varsity player J.P. Abrew (5) upends Michael Solis (53) of the Ceres Seahawks on a fourth down short of the first down Saturday. - photo by DAVE CAMPBELL/The Bulletin

CERES — J.P. Abrew pulled in a pair of touchdown passes and threw another to lead the Ripon Knights junior varsity to a 30-20 win over the Ceres Seahawks in opening-round action of the Trans-Valley Youth Football League playoffs at Ceres High on Saturday.

Nate Cedolini found Abrew with two touchdown passes and at the end of the first half Abrew stunned the Seahawks with a touchdown throw to Konnor Kibler. Hunter Steele added 133 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown.

Eddie Ramirez led Ripon with 13 tackles. Mario Garcia and Chase Bunnell added nine stops each, Steele and Kosaka six each, Brady Rossi five and Dax Beidleman four. Also contributing on defense were Kibbler, Abrew, Michael Pires, Landon Crawford, Matt Chapman, Ray Coronado, Patrick Cory, and Darren Van Groningen. Aaron Van Hofwegen was 3 of 4 on conversion kicks.


MVFL

Ripon Chiefs varsity 36, Waterford SaberCats 12

Kaden MacDannald and Garrison Reis accounted for the six touchdowns Saturday in second-round playoff action, helping the Chiefs earn a Super Bowl berth.

MacDannald (14 carries, 123 yards; two receptions, 50 yards) scored on runs of 18 and 50 yards and on a 35-yard pass from Reis (3 of 14 passing, 72 yards; 11 carries, 62 yards). Reis added touchdown runs of 2 and 13 yards.

Frank Teicheira IV added 46 yards on 10 carries with Xzavier Clark and Jesus Ochoa also contributing on offense.

Reis paced the Ripon defense with eight tackles. Teicheira IV added six stops, Ty Herrin four with three each for MacDannald (interception) and Clark (tipped pass). Logan House (interception), Marcus Atienza (interception), Skyler Ortiz, Ochoa, Rylan McDonald and Canaan Clark also contributed on defense.

The Knights play in the Super Bowl on Saturday at Hughson High at 6 p.m.


Novice

Chiefs 19, SaberCats 6

Peaking at the right time, Ripon punched its ticket to the Super Bowl with its sixth straight win. This one against previously undefeated Waterford avenged an early-season loss.

Xabriel Reyes (21 carries, 138 yds) continued his stellar season, recording all three Chiefs touchdowns on runs of 2, 22 and 50 yards. The offensive line of Jacob Dood, Mason Buck, Nik Vitz, Jarrod Smith, Jayden Costa and Zach Thomas led the way from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. The most impressive drive for Ripon was one of 16 plays and 45 yards, lasting 10 minutes, two seconds, capped by Reyes’ 2-yard scoring plunge.

The Chiefs forced three turnovers and were led by Kaiden Romero (five tackles, fumble recovery) followed by Reyes (four tackles), Ace Dougherty (three tackles, intereption) and Gavin Duran (forced fumble, fumble recovery), Jaden Becerra, Chase Rainer and Isaac Ochoa all with two stops apiece. The defensive line of Eli Segrest, Buck, Josh Baliel, Ivan Godina and Devin Teicheira repeatedly pushed back against the SaberCats offense.

The Chiefs play in the Super Bowl on Saturday at Hughson High School at 2 p.m.