RSS Electronic Edition | Newsletters Subscribe | Customer Service Contact Us | Community Buy Photos Modmomsclub

... - Football - High School Football - High School Football: Stories

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Modesto Rolls past Beyer

Ingram runs for four touchdowns in win

E-Mail Print

Share and share alike is the philosophy for James Ingram and Arquel Rogers, Modesto High's talented running duo.

The tandem took turns running through Beyer's defense Thursday, combining for 250 yards and five TDs as the Panthers rolled to a 50-23 Modesto Metro Conference victory.

After losing three of its first four, Modesto (5-3, 3-0) has won its last four games and is alone atop the MMC. Enochs (2-5, 2-0) is a half-game back heading into tonight's game against Downey (2-5, 1-1).

Modesto coach Rod Long had remarked earlier this week that his running backs had nearly identical statistics and that they had adjusted well to sharing the carries.

In their previous three games, Ingram had 48 carries for 396 yards and five TDs and Rogers had 48 carries for 390 yards and three TDs. That's a total of 96 carries, 786 yards and eight TDs in three weeks.

They continued that teamwork against Beyer, alternating carries in a first half that saw Modesto's offense do exactly as it please. It had five first-half possessions and five TDs, with quarterback Anthony Salinas flinging a 38-yard toss to Andre Barry to complement the running attack.

Long decided this week that Salinas would replace Klayton Miller — "coach's decision," Long said Thursday — and Salinas threw for 49 yards and ran for 78 yards.

Much of the senior's night was spent handing the ball to his backs, however.

Ingram (14 carries, 129 yards, four TDs) and Rogers (19 carries, 121 yards, TD) had 11 carries for 71 yards on the opening drive, as the Panthers marched 76 yards in 13 plays.

By halftime, they had combined for 23 carries and 157 yards, and Modesto was up 33-0.

Ingram broke loose on a 38-yard TD run in the third quarter, then Jesus Ontiverson booted a 22-yard field goal for a 43-7 lead.

Rogers, often lining up in the fullback spot and powering behind his dominant offensive line, knocked over plenty of defenders while picking up the inside yards. Ingram, lined up six yards behind the ball, often found his hole before taking more than a step forward. He'd shoot through the gap created by his line, his legs churning until three or four defenders brought him down.

It's a formula that the Panthers hope will carry them into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, after winning the conference crown.

That championship could come as early as next week, or it could be decided the final night of the season when Modesto faces Enochs. Modesto plays Downey and Enochs faces Davis next week.

If the Panthers can continue their mid-season surge through the next two weeks, they'll take the MMC's No. 1 seed into the playoffs and likely would host a first-round game. The MMC is guaranteed at least two playoff spots — every conference is assured at least two playoff teams — and that's likely all the conference will get.

The only scenario that delivers a third spot is if Davis (1-1, 4-3) can gather itself and win the final three games. If there is a three-way tie for first place, and Davis has seven wins and falls to No. 3 because of the tiebreaker, the Spartans would likely advance with an at-large berth based on their overall record.

The most likely scenario for that: Modesto is upset by Downey, Davis wins its last three and Downey beats Johansen the last night of the season. That would leave the three with identical 4-1 conference records — but such a scenario is a longshot considering the way the Panthers have played this past month.