Patterson asserts its brute force on Hughson

HUGHSON — The Stanislaus District's leading rusher ran into the region's leading defensive unit Friday.

Hughson tailback Caleb Duron, averaging 197 yards and three TDs each week, repeatedly ran into the heart of Patterson's defense — only to buried under 1,500 pounds of white jerseys.

"I don't feel that there is extra pressure on me, just because I'm going to USC," said the Tigers' 6-foot-4, 275-pound Pio Vatuvei, who made a verbal commitment to play for the Trojans next fall. "I'm playing with two great defensive linemen, and we have a great defense playing behind us."

That was clear, as Patterson dominated Hughson in its 33-0 win. It led 27-0 in the first quarter and the clock was kept running in the second half.

It was a hot, muggy night, the sort that could have drained a three-man line that weighs in at 1,000 pounds.

"Coach (Nick) Marchy has us well conditioned, so we can play through times like this," said Vatuvei, an athletic end who works alongside 400-pound nosetackle Tim Tupuola and 300-plus pound end Andrew Tupuola. "If people run away from me, Andrew and Kimo (Tim) are going to get them."

That sets up a showdown next week when Patterson (3-0), The Bee's No. 3 large school, hosts defending California small-school champ Escalon (3-0).

Escalon was 14-1 last year, it's lone loss 22-15 to Patterson. The Tigers shut out Escalon in the second half. The Tigers' defense appears to be just as good this year, maybe even better.

Duron, a 170-pounder who ran for 235 and 159 yards the first two weeks, finished with 10 runs for 24 yards. He had 10 yards at the half, fumbling twice in his first four touches.

Patterson turned both of those into quick scores, after it went 85 yards for a TD to open the game. One play after Duron's fumble, tailback George Garcia followed the right side of his line through traffic on the way to a 35-yard TD run.

After another fumble on Hughson's next series, Garcia again put the ball into the end zone. This time receiver Kendrick Trotter provided a key block, driving a defender to the sideline to clear the way for Garcia's 45-yard TD run.

Garcia (109 yards rushing) helped the Tigers pile up 275 yards on 32 plays in the first half. The Huskies had 36 yards on 22 plays.

Patterson's fourth TD — the Tigers led 27-0 just 8 minutes into the game — was set up Trotter's acrobatic interception. He baited the quarterback into a quick pass, then went vertical in front of the receiver to pluck it off the grass.

"The slot receiver is left open in that coverage, and he's the hot receiver if the QB gets in trouble," Trotter noted. "I saw him look that way before the snap, so I jumped off my guy at the snap and I don't think he even saw me move in."

On the next play, Bryan Todd found Robert Marroquin in the end zone for a 13-yard TD to make it 27-0.

"Each week, coach has a word for us," said Trotter, who caught a 14-yard TD late in the half. "Tonight it was 'underestimate,' as in 'don't underestimate what Hughson could do.' "

As it turned out, there wasn't much it could do.

The Husky faithful were out in force, giving Hughson what athletic director Jim Schuller called "its largest crowd in years,"

The field was rung with black and gold flags, a tip of the cap from townsfolk to coach George Harp. He is rebuilding a program that had fallen into disrepair, going 1-9 last season.

The first-year coach led Hughson to wins the first two weeks, but neither foe played defense like this.