The Manteca Jaguars improved to 2-0 in the Central California Youth Football League’s NFC-varsity division after defeating the Merced Cougars 32-22 at Golden Valley High Saturday.

The host Cougars, playing in their season opener, jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, but Manteca responded soon after on Damon Lynch’s 82-yard kickoff return.

Merced benefitted from the big play on its next possession, reclaiming the lead, 14-8, thanks to an 82-yard scoring run. The Jaguars’ Mark Paule nearly took the ensuing kickoff in for a touchdown, but was wrestled down at the Cougars’ 20.

Manteca later scored on Kody Justis’ 2-yard TD.

Ahead 16-14, the Jags added to their lead on a 6-yard run by Paule, who also hauled in a 35-yard pass from Austin Miller to set up the score. Manteca led at the half, 24-14.

Justis scored again in the second half. On defense, he had six tackles. Lynch led the Jags with 61 yards on 12 carries, and was also credited with four tackles on defense. Paule racked up some all-purpose yards, gaining 22 yards on eight carries to go along with his 35 receiving yards. He also had a 63-yard kickoff return and a 40-yard punt return.

Miller was 2 of 3 in passing for 57 yards. In addition, he collected two tackles along with a quarterback sack.

Kicker Marcos Castillo contributed with four extra points, including one from 30 yards out.

Other contributors included Carlos Juarez with seven tackles coupled with a 30-yard interception return and Angel Chavez with three tackles and three sacks.



Junior varsity

Jaguars 14, Cougars 6

Gerson Gomez scored a touchdown and John Cohen rushed for 76 yards and a score to pace the 2-0 Manteca Jaguars.

Nicholas Relloque and Kobe Shippley chipped in, with both rushing for 25 yards.

On defense, Jaysen Reindel had two tackles for losses while Gomez and Shippley combined for four tackles and a safety against Merced (0-1).



Pee Wee

Jaguars 19, Cougars 0

Manteca once again sparkled on defense by posting a shutout in Merced.

Domenic Wolfson led the way with five tackles and an interception, and Elijah White also had five stops.

On offense, Garay racked up 72 yards on the ground while scoring a TD. The Jaguars (2-0) amassed nearly 300 yards in rushing.

Kyle Lynch also scored a TD while finishing with 63 yards. Jaylen Jackson picked up 57 yards on the ground.

Jaguar quarterback Dominic Rea ran for 60 yards.



Rookies

Jaguars 14, Cougars 0

Jaimare Wayne and Zelmar Vedder each scored a touchdown to lead Manteca (2-0). Vedder, who had 103 rushing yards, and Jessie Miranda both had three tackles to pace the defense. Wayne also came through with a 45-yard interception return while racking up 35 yards on the ground.

Keyshawn Robinson and Dominik Thomas, in addition, chipped in with 52 and 32 yards, respectively, in rushing.