Turlock defense makes big plays in second half to spark comeback win over Tracy
With his team trailing by 11 points late in the third quarter and about to go down by even more, Turlock High cornerback Jeremy Garcia had a feeling.
It was an inclination of what play Tracy was going to run. And it was an instinct that changed the game.
Garcia jumped the route, intercepted a Tracy pass and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown. The pick-six swung the momentum of the game, and Turlock went on to win 26-23 in the annual Battle of the Bone on Friday night at Joe Debely Stadium.
“Just something about that slot receiver, he was telling me he was going to run out,” Garcia said. “As soon as I saw the QB (throw it), I just drove it. That’s what we did in practice and that’s what we did in the game.”
The big play pulled Turlock to within five points, but Garcia wasn’t done. On Tracy’s next drive, the senior recovered a fumble at Tracy’s 19-yard line. Alex Ventura then ran 19 yards for a touchdown.
In just a few plays, Turlock went from trailing 17-6 to leading 20-17.
“That’s what this team needed, like life,” Turlock coach James Peterson said. “That was the spark we needed. Everybody exploded, the crowd, everybody got behind it. And things started going our way.”
After dropping the season opener 35-7 at powerhouse Rocklin a week earlier, Turlock (1-1) needed something to get its juices flowing.
Garcia’s big play seemed to energize the team and its crowd.
“As soon as I got to the sidelines everybody was dabbing me up,” Garcia said. “You could feel the momentum ... that’s exactly what we needed.”
Defense the key for Turlock
Turlock quarterback Scout Silva had mostly a quiet night through the air. But he was able to make big plays with his legs when he needed to.
The sophomore standout ran for 102 yards, threw a touchdown pass for Turlock’s first score and scrambled for 17 yards on third down that allowed Turlock to run out the clock.
Ventura, a junior running back showed toughness and speed all night, running for 91 yards and two touchdowns. His 2-yard TD run put Turlock up by nine points late in the game.
Tracy (1-1) managed a late touchdown to pull within 3 with 2 minutes, 28 seconds left in the game. But Silva’s run put it out of reach.
Turlock’s defense was the key to the win. After Tracy scored 16 points in the first half, it allowed only 7 in the second. Tracy’s offense was hurt when leading rusher David Grisham (77 yards, 1 TD) was injured in the third quarter.
A game filled with turnovers and penalties
The game, although entertaining, was littered with penalties, including at least 10 personal fouls.
The most critical penalty came when Tracy, trailing by three points, stopped Turlock on fourth down at the Tracy 4-yard line.
A late hit call gave Turlock a first down at the Tracy 2-yard line, and Ventura plunged into the end zone to give Turlock a nine-point lead.
Tracy coach Jeff Pribble didn’t seem happy with the officiating in the second half.
“My team did everything possible to win this game tonight,” Pribble said. “Some stuff just didn’t go our way in the second half, and sometimes those things happen.”
Tracy quarterback Brady Brown, like Silva just a sophomore, had a nice night passing. He threw for 151 and two touchdowns. But he certainly wish he could take the interception back.
Turlock wins fourth straight ‘Battle of the Bone’
With the win, Turlock now leads the rivalry series 6-4.
It was the fourth straight year that Turlock brought home the bone, a trophy reflecting the schools’ shared Bulldogs mascot.
“I just feel like this rivalry and this game that we play for the bone is a special event that we appreciate,” Pribble said.
Turlock will look to continue the momentum when it travels to Fresno to take on Central East (1-1).
Tracy will look to bounce back when it plays at Mountain House (1-1).
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 11:38 PM.
