LOS BANOS -- The second edition of the Crosstown Clash between Los Banos and Pacheco came down to a jump ball in a 10-6 Los Banos win on Friday night.
After a Los Banos three-and-out, Pacheco took over on its own 41-yard line with 1 minute, 45 seconds remaining. A 14-yard Jacob Parks' pass to Hunter Mendez gave the Panthers the ball on LB's 45, and that's when Pacheco went for the end zone.
Parks dropped back, saw one-on-one coverage and launched a pass for a receiver streaking down the Los Banos sideline -- but LB cornerback Delvonte Moore was waiting for it.
"I knew they were coming that way. My coach told me in practice they were going to isolate one guy and I had to guard him," Moore said. "When it was in the air, I knew it was mine."
Moore, with inside position, jumped and snagged the ball out of the air to end Pacheco's upset bid.
"We're getting there. Unfortunately it didn't end up like I wanted it to, but we played, we battled, and I'm really proud of my football team," Pacheco coach David Snapp said about the second-year varsity squad. "They play hard, they don't quit, and that's what we've asked the whole time -- leave a mark and make an impression."
The game was a sign the fledgling town rivalry is coming of age -- both squads hit hard the entire game. Los Banos running back James Sams scratched and clawed for every one of his 81 yards on 24 carries, and Pacheco's Paul Parks likewise had to fight for 59 yards on 15 carries.
LB quarterback Chris Corpuz completed 9 of 23 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown, but for the second week in a row the Tigers' passing game was off, with open receivers missed and dropped passes all around.
"Snapp made a comment in the paper that they were going to bring pressure, and I thought we did a good job of picking it up," Los Banos coach Dustin Caropreso said. "It's just having the confidence to play catch. We had guys open. We knew on the back half they have a little bit of a weakness we could pick on, and we tried."
RSS
E-Mail
Print
Order reprints
