Victory prize for Escalon is rematch with MC

By Ron Agostini
ragostini@modbee.com

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ESCALON -- Who says there are no mulligans in high school football? Escalon will beg to differ.

The Cougars earned one of life's luxuries, a second chance, with a solid 38-21 win over Hilmar in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 4B playoffs.

Escalon (10-1) gets a rematch next week against Modesto Christian, the team that handed the Cougars their only loss and cost them the Trans-Valley League title. To hear the Cougars tell it, they have struggled with their confidence since that setback.

PREP FOOTBALL QUICK LINKS

Until Friday night, that is.

"We are very fortunate to have a second shot," Escalon coach Mark Loureiro said. "All you can ask for is that chance."

A less-than-capacity crowd at Engel Field watched the Cougars impose their will on a smaller but stubborn Hilmar team (8-3). The playoffs demand the best from the team's best players, and Escalon's two-way stars Spencer Franceschetti, Nick Largent and the rest complied.

Hilmar will take small consolation from being the only team to score points in Escalon's house this fall. But the Yellowjackets proved only temporary barriers to Escalon's wing-T offense, an attack as subtle as a 2-by-4 to the chin, which churned for 300 rushing yards.

Tailback Steven Silva accounted for two touchdowns and Josh Miguel (11 carries, 120 yards) ripped 34 yards behind a trap block for the score that handed Escalon full control 28-7 late in the third quarter.

"We needed to show everyone why we deserve a chance in these playoffs," Silva said. "Now it's what we make of our chance."

The collarbone injury that shelved Hilmar quarterback Quinton McCown would not have changed the outcome, though the pesky Yellowjackets probably would have forced a higher final score.

Sophomore replacement Andrew Olson (11 of 24, 97 yards, 2 interceptions) managed the game decently and anchored Hilmar's 76-yard 19-play touchdown march that ate most of the second quarter. Carlos Diaz, Hilmar's 120-pound senior dynamo, finished it with a 3-yard dive.

"We got three legit touchdowns," Marques said. "We didn't have the horses this year and still won eight. Our kids played great."

The big moments, however, were seized by Escalon. It opened decisively when Brandon Shaw slapped down a punt, leading to a 1-yard slash for a TD by Silva. Less than two minutes later after Hilmar fumbled away the kickoff, Jason Diniz (5 PATs, 1 FG) scored and the Cougars quickly led 14-0.

"Tonight we were crisp and there was no hesitation. I had not seen that hunger in a couple of weeks," Loureiro said.

They regained it on plays such as Franceschetti's arching 16-yard touchdown pass that Largent, a tight end when not striking blows as a linebacker, caught the ball over his shoulders in the end zone.

Escalon soon had its mulligan.

Bee staff writer Ron Agostini can be reached at ragostini@modbee.com or 578-2302.