Modesto overcomes early deficit, races past Enochs to earn first league win in six years
The Modesto High football team found itself in an unusual position after Friday’s night league opener against Enochs.
The Panthers are tied atop the Central California Athletic League standings.
Yes, Modesto is only 1-0 in league play. But the significance of that one win, a 42-29 victory over the Eagles, can’t be understated.
It was the Panthers’ first victory in league play since 2018. It also was the first CCAL win for Modesto head coach Dylan Miller since he took over the program in 2019.
“It’s an honor to give that to him,” Panthers running back Lucky Dam said. “He’s a great coach. We love him, he loves us. So, it was great.”
Modesto overcame an early 9-0 deficit and rode the hard running of Dam and quarterback Israel Ceniceros to the victory.
Ceniceros ran for 216 yards and four touchdowns; Dam rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
“We told the guys it was going to be a fight,” Miller said. “And it was a teeter-totter matchup, even late.”
Ceniceros said the Panthers were a little frustrated after falling behind in the first quarter. But a 21-point second quarter helped Modesto (3-3, 1-0) take control. Enochs (2-4, 0-1) was behind for the rest of the night.
“Originally, we were a little down, not going to lie,” the junior signal-caller said. “But the defense made some big plays and it kind of gave us some motivation and we kind of stepped it up a little bit.”
Enochs quarterback Johnny Staggs threw three second-half touchdowns to keep the Eagles in the game. But Modesto’s offense responded every time and Enochs eventually ran out of time.
The Panthers recovered two onside kicks in the fourth quarter to help ice the victory.
Too many mistakes for Enochs
Enochs often was its own worst enemy.
The Eagles turned the ball over on an interception and a muffed punt, and came up short on fourth-and-one on their own 39-yard line.
All of those set up Modesto’s offense with great field position and the Panthers made them pay.
“Just execution, you’ve got to be able to execute,” Enochs coach Tracy Traub said. “This is a great Modesto team. This is the best team I’ve seen in years for them. They’re big, they’re physical, and we just didn’t execute.”
Quarterback stepping up as a leader for Modesto
Ceniceros put on a running display for Modesto, scoring touchdowns on runs of 10, 34, 13 and 34 yards. He helped lead the Panthers’ JV team to an 8-2 record last year. Now he’s on a roll for the varsity.
Miller lit up when asked to talk about Ceniceros.
“He’s just a hell of a football player,” Miller said. “He’s a quarterback by position, but he’s just one of those electric athletes. When you get the ball in his hand, he does a great job. Couldn’t be prouder of him. He’s a fine young man.”
Dam opened Modesto’s scoring on a 12-yard run, then closed out the Panthers’ scoring with a 43-yarder that all but ended it.
Enochs’ only touchdown in the first half came on Eric Myles’ 21-yard run.
Modesto will face its toughest test of the season next week against unbeaten Downey (6-0, 1-0).
Enochs plays Gregori (1-5, 0-1) next week.
