This year’s game between Escalon and Ripon means more than normal. Everyone can feel it
More than 20 years into the rivalry between Ripon and Escalon, it is still as strong as ever.
The competitive spirit between the two teams separated by just 12 miles only intensifies given what is on the line in Friday’s 7 p.m. matchup in Escalon.
This year, both teams have been on a crash course to the game that will decide a Trans-Valley League title.
After losing its first two games to East Union and Sonora, Ripon went back to the drawing board. The Indians have been on a tear since, winning six straight games.
“We started to figure things out, both coaches and players, about who we are as a team and what our strengths are and what we needed to focus on,” Ripon coach Chris Musseman said. “We’re a completely different team than we’ve been in the past.
“We’re more of a run right at you group this year. So, we had to figure out how we wanted to do that within our system that we have.”
They have shown flashes of brilliance on offense — Ripon has scored 55 or more points in two of its four league games — but they hang their hats on the defensive end.
That showed against Hilmar. When the offense couldn’t get going, the defense only allowed a field goal in a 7-3 win.
“After that second game we really sat down and re-evaluated.” Musseman said. “We got our defense straightened out and defense is definitely a strength for us.”
The Indians gave up 12 points in their first league game against Modesto Christian, but haven’t allowed more than seven points since.
Escalon is unique. It starts four sophomores and one freshman. Sophomore quarterback Donovon Rizevink has 974 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The only freshman on the roster stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 pounds. Tight end/defensive end Ryan Lewis leads the team in sacks (seven) and fumble recoveries (three) and adds 36 total tackles to his impressive resume.
“All those nerves of being a freshman or being a sophomore on varsity, those things have gone away now,” Escalon coach Andrew Beam said. “I told them there are no longer any sophomores or freshmen on this team. It’s just varsity football players.”
The Cougars have only had one slip up, a 54-14 non-league loss to Kimball, a Valley Oak League power that’s ranked No. 15 in the Sac-Joaquin Section, according to MaxPreps.
After beating Hughson by nine and Hilmar by 10, the Cougars exploded for more than 50 points against Riverbank and Modesto Christian.
“Getting those early victories against Hughson and Hilmar in league were big in terms of getting the momentum going,” said Beam. “Everything starts to get a little bit more serious as you get deeper into October.”
So, here we are. Both teams sit at 4-0 in TVL play, which sets the stage for some added anticipation around an already storied rivalry.
With a win in this game and securing the league title, Escalon enters the playoffs via automatic entry in Division V. With a loss, the Cougars will likely be a playoff team in their regular Division VI.
Securing the league title for Ripon means an automatic entry into the Division V playoffs and possibly a higher seed.
Both teams have one more game to finish league at home, Escalon against Livingston (5-3, 2-2 TVL) and Ripon against Hughson (6-3, 2-3 TVL).
“Before we started playing this thing I thought that anybody could win it,” Beam said. “It’s only fitting that it’s going to come down to the last couple of weeks to decide the champion.”
