More often than not, a three-touchdown lead is a comfortable one. Thursday, this was not the case.
Midway through the second quarter against arch-rival Sierra, East Union had scored the first three touchdowns of the contest and appeared to be on a roll. When the dust settled at Dino Cunial Field, the Timberwolves’ Marcelo Morales had three touchdowns of his own and Sierra went home with a thrilling 27-20 come-from-behind Valley Oak League freshman win.
On the second play of the game, Johntae Maggard (eight carries, 100 yards) started the early scoring parade for the Lancers with a 74-yard touchdown scamper up the sideline. East Union went to the long ball again later in the quarter when Gustavo Delagadillo galloped 74 yards with a scoring pass from Luke Weaver (6 of 10 passing, 108 yards) for a 13-0 lead. Marcus Brennan (11 carries, 29 yards) gave the Lancers a 20-0 lead with 5:22 left in the second quarter.
The Timberwolves narrowed the gap to 20-13 by halftime. Luke Abrew (two carries, 45 yards) found Morales (two catches, 30 yards; 14 carries, 85 yards) with a shovel pass up the middle for a 26-yard touchdown and with 1:39 left in the half Jeontay Berry scampered 36 yards to make the score 20-13.
Morales added 4- and 13-yard touchdown runs in the second half to give Sierra the win.
Ryan Torres led the Timberwolves defense with 11 tackles. Nikko Nunez added six stops and Ben Wheeler and Victor Serna tallied five apiece.
Gustavo Delagadillo posted nine tackles for East Union. Brennan and Bryan Howe added five tackles each with Gannon Anderson and Xavier Mendez both making four tackles.
Western Athletic
Conference
Lathrop 22, Johansen 6
LATHROP – Outmanned and outgunned with 13 players to 28 and a true freshman team up against a frosh/soph team, the Spartans limited the Vikings to just 13 yards of total offense at Bennie Gatto Field.
Luis Hernandez directed the Lathrop offense, completing eight of 16 passes for 156 yards with a 26-yard scoring throw to Jason Seabron (four receptions, 75 yards) and one of 14 yards to Andres Cisneros-Pena (two receptions, 29 yards). Amario Valdovinos had two catches for 52 yards.
Luis Hernandez (eight tackles) iced the game for the Spartans when he intercepted a pass with 1:42 left in the fourth quarter and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown.
Valdovinos led the Lathrop defense with 10 tackles. Noah Martinez added eight stops, Jaden Prieto seven with Andres Cisneros-Pena, Allan Oseguera and Christopher Ray making six tackles apiece.
Non-league
Manteca 28, Edison 15
Corey Franklin lit up the Vikings for three touchdowns and more than 150 yards.
Franklin tallied 152 yards on 16 carries and Khalid Robinson (six carries, 39 yards) added a touchdown run.
Dylan Deprater was 6 of 9 passing for 63 yards for the Buffaloes with Mason Gandy hauling in five catches 55 yards
Manteca’s Zach Todd made seven tackles with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Franklin and Dylan Deprater added four stops apiece and Donovan Hall made an interception.
