Turlock crushes Laguna Creek to earn quarterfinal matchup against Central Catholic
The Turlock High football team went into its Sac-Joaquin Section Division Division I playoff game as a heavy favorite against Laguna Creek.
But the sixth-seeded Bulldogs didn’t take the 11th-seeded Cardinals lightly.
“We had to be on,” freshman quarterback Scout Silva said. “Even though this team is a lower seed, they could’ve come in here and beat us if they played well. So we had to come in here ready to play.”
Turlock was ready indeed. The Bulldogs cruised past the visitors from Elk Grove, rolling to an impressive 48-12 victory.
Silva, the Bulldogs’ diminutive but dynamic quarterback, threw three touchdowns, including two to teammate Junior Silva (no relation), and Turlock earned a spot in the quarterfinals next Friday night.
The Bulldogs won’t have far to go. They’ll take on third-seeded Central Catholic in Modesto.
“I thought the boys play great,” Turlock coach James Peterson said. “Offensively, we struggled at times. But defensively and special teams, we picked it right up. ...
“I’m so happy for the football team right now and the way they played tonight.”
Turlock (8-3), the champion of the Central California Athletic League, will next face Central Catholic (7-3), winners of four straight games, next Friday night at David Patton Field.
Several members of the Raiders’ coaching staff were in attendance to see Turlock crush Laguna Creek.
The Bulldogs led 27-0 at halftime and extended the margin to 48-0 in the final quarter with a running clock.
Two garbage-time touchdowns for Laguna Creek (5-5), including a 70-yard kickoff return by Ryan Eddy, made the final score look closer than the game actually was.
Turlock is on a roll
Turlock will take a seven-game win streak into its quarterfinal showdown against Central Catholic.
The Bulldogs’ swarming defense kept Laguna Creek’s offense stifled all night.
Cardinals senior running back Armon Thorntona, who came into the game with 1,065 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns in just six games, found little room to run against Turlock. He finished with 27 yards on 10 carries.
Turlock scored twice on returns. Colten Mauksch returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown and Dominick Luna intercepted a Laguna Creek pass and ran it back 17 yards for a score.
Mauksch scored the Bulldogs’ final touchdown on a six-yard run.
Junior Silva made the play of the night for the Bulldogs’ offense, taking a swing pass and darting 85 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first quarter.
Central Catholic will be a challenge
Central Catholic will be a much tougher test for Turlock than overmatched Laguna Creek was.
The Raiders feature a high-powered offense and a stout defense and are battle-tested after playing a tough nonconference schedule and a difficult Valley Oak League slate.
The Raiders finished second in the VOL after going 5-1. Their only league loss came to powerhouse Manteca.
Turlock and Central Catholic have never met in the postseason.
To reach the semifinals, Turlock will need a big night from its freshman quarterback, who plays beyond his years.
Silva passed for 169 yards and ran for 50 more before being pulled out of the game early in the fourth quarter.
“I’m really proud of him, his poise as a freshman, coming out here playing the way he does,” Peterson said. “Week after week ... he took a shot last week but bounced back this week and performed well.”
This story was originally published November 8, 2024 at 11:33 PM.
