RIPON — Both teams combined for eight turnovers Friday before Sierra’s Miguel Sequeira punched in a touchdown from 1 yard out with 1:57 left to give the Timberwolves the go-ahead score and eventually a 22-21 win in non-league play over host Ripon in non-league sophomore action at Stouffer Field.
Sequeira’s plunge capped a seven-play, 52 yard drive. Elijah White cemented the victory for Sierra with an interception with 54 seconds in the game.
Sierra (1-0) took a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard plunge by Sequeira (22 carries, 150 yards) late in the first quarter. The Indians (1-0) went ahead 14-7 by halftime on touchdown runs of 8 yards by Justin Hansen (seven carries, 69 yards) and 5 yards by Derrick Roy (10 carries, 57 yards), with Roy’s coming after a fumble recovery by teammate Adam Wood.
Wood padded the Ripon lead to 21-7 when he returned the second-half kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. Midway through the third period Sequeira converted a fumble recovery by Carlos Tovar into a 3-yard scoring plunge and tacked on a 2-point conversion to come within 21-15.
Following Sequeira’a third-quarter touchdown, Wood (10 carries, 57 yards) appeared to be headed for another kickoff-return score but was chased down after 85 yards.
Sequeira directed the Timberwolves offense, connecting on 10 of 22 passes for 127 yards, including a 50-yard reception by Saul Contreras. Larenze Red added eight carries for 56 yards.
Red made an interception on the last play of the first half and White recovered a fumble in the first half.
NicoIlardi completed three of 10 attempts for the Indians for 75 yards. Dorian Dougherty and Justin Hansen each had an interception for Ripon and Grant Wiebe a fumble recovery.
Manteca 26,
Buhach Colony 12
With a six-point game entering the third quarter of the non-league contest, the Thunder had a bad snap on a punt deep in its own territory, allowing Jose Ceja to smother the Buhach Colony punter on the 3-yard line. A.J. Martinez then scored on a 3-yard run to steal the momentum for an 18-6 Buffaloes lead and the Thunder (0-1) never recovered at Atwater High’s Dave Honey Field.
Ceja was all over the field for the Buffaloes (1-0) , making 11 tackles and disrupting multiple plays. Alex Gouveia and Nic Creighton added seven tackles each, A.J. Martinez five and Kyle Lynch three.
At the end of a scoreless first half, Chris Ortiz powered in from the Buhach Colony 1 to give Manteca a 6-0 lead in the last play of the second quarter. Jorge Cedano spotted Ortiz across the field for his only completion on a 41-yard touchdown pass early in the third period for a 12-0 lead. Cedano was on target all day, but many of his passes went through his receivers’ hands.
Cedano ran the Buffaloes lead to 26-6 early in the fourth quarter in a 30-yard quarterback keeper.
Martinez tallied 65 yards on 12 carries and Gouveia added 42 yards on eight carries.
Folsom 34,
East Union 6
The Bulldogs scored the final 27 points Friday night to pull away for the non-league win at Dino Cunial Field.
After Folsom (1-0) scored on the first play of the game, Tealen Gaynes brought the Lancers within 7-6 in the second quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs added two scores in the third quarter and one in the fourth.
Andrew Mount led a balanced East Union ground game with 12 carries for 70 yards and was followed by JoJo Espinosa (11 caries, 59 yards), Alex Alexander (six carries, 42 yards) and Levi Huffman (four carries, 38 yards).
Alex Alexander had eight tackles for the Lancers (0-1), Marquise Higgins five, Anthony Anays three and Thomas Cann five quarterback hurries.
Ceres 12,
Weston Ranch 0
After a scoreless first half, the Bulldogs (1-0) added a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters.
The Cougars (0-1) had less than 100 yards of total offense.
