Escalon avenges last year's loss to Patterson

PATTERSON -- The heart of a champion, a proud state champion, still beats deep inside the Escalon High Cougars.

They spotted pounds and yards, but not an ounce of give-up, to the Patterson Tigers. Given their chance, the Cougars powered for two third-quarter touchdowns by running back Matt Roberson, and that was enough Friday night.

Escalon 14, Patterson 7.

"This game made both teams better. Iron sharpens iron," said Escalon coach Mark Loureiro, drenched in sweat at game's end. "We were able to do it the way Escalon does it."

Loureiro meant me-versus-you power, and old-fashioned efficiency. Though the Cougars (3-0) no doubt remembered Patterson's 22-15 win a year ago today — Escalon's only loss en route to glory in Carson — their hard-earned victory rose above mere revenge.

About 5,000, perched on berms and standing outside fences surrounding Patterson Community Stadium, witnessed teams that combined for only one turnover (a muffed punt by Patterson). The game was billed as arguably the nonleague matchup of the season, and it lived up to it, hit by hit and tackle by tackle.

"They gave us a challenge and we accepted the call," said Roberson (15 carries, 72 yards), a 6-foot, 205-pound senior who's slashing out of the shadow of heralded teammate Josh Miguel (17 carries, 87 yards). "We filled in the holes on defense and made them fight for it."

Standing as testimony to the game's physicality was Patterson's celebrated star Pio Vatuvei, who spent most of the game painfully limping on and off the field. The future USC Trojan banged up his left knee with about six minutes left in the first half and was hardly a factor from that point, though he willed himself onto the field at times.

"We braced it up at halftime. I think he'll be fine," Patterson coach Nick Marchy said. "Our backups did a great job."

Patterson (3-1) also lost inside linebacker Frankie Sanchez (first-quarter knee injury), and it was a harbinger. The Tigers' offense ran 35 plays to Escalon's 15 during the first half but the result was a missed field goal — they reached the 8-yard line on their second possession — and a 0-0 tie.

"We just kept looking for 44 (Vatuvei)," Loureiro said. "All we were trying to do is run away from him."

Escalon, which gained only 36 yards during the first half, finally found traction with quick pitches to Miguel behind linemen Nate Caton and Shane Silveira. Roberson then found room to the right and bounced easily into the end zone from 4 yards out.

The Cougars' momentum was sustained with a 73-yard march. Roberson later raced 10 yards for the eventual game-winning points.

Patterson, fueled by running back George Garcia (18 carries, 57 yards), closed to 14-7 with 3:04 left on Bryan Todd's short pass to Rodney Lawson. The Tigers held Escalon but Lawson's long punt return to the Escalon 17-yard line was erased by a block in the back.