Canepa scores four TDs as Sonora pounds Ripon in battle of small-school powers

The Ripon and Sonora high school football teams went into Friday night’s showdown of small-school powerhouses looking to build confidence as their league seasons approach.

Only the Wildcats came out of the matchup feeling good about themselves.

Sonora rolled to an impressive 36-20 victory at Stouffer Field and now heads into its Mother Lode League season brimming with confidence.

Ripon, meanwhile, has a lot to get straightened out before its Trans-Valley League opener Oct. 9.

“We’re trying to find the identity of our football team,” Ripon coach Chris Johnson said.

In a matchup of The Bee’s No. 1 and No. 2 small-school teams, Sonora (3-1) clearly proved it was deserving of the top spot. The Wildcats dominated up front on both sides of the ball and played a nearly flawless first half.

“We’ve been slow starters in all three of our previous games,” Sonora coach Bryan Craig said. “Our emphasis this week was to establish ourselves early.”

Sonora’s ground game was too much for Ripon (1-3). The Wildcats totaled 336 rushing yards, including 112 from junior fullback Bradley Canepa, who also scored four touchdowns.

Sonora was playing its fourth of five consecutive road games after the Butte fire forced the Wildcats to switch two home games to their opponents’ fields. But the Wildcats did not appear road weary at all.

The Wildcats dominated the action early and led 29-7 at halftime. Jacob Duxbury’s 77-yard punt return for a touchdown was Ripon’s only highlight of the first two quarters.

The Indians’ best offensive moments came when they threw against Sonora’s cornerbacks. One was hobbling and the other was a backup who was replacing a starter, Craig said.

Ripon’s primary problem was its inability to get its running game started. Johnson said that’s his biggest concern heading into the next two weeks – a home game against Sutter on Friday, then a bye week before the TVL opener at Hilmar on Oct. 9.

“They just overmatched us up front,” Johnson said. “I’m not confident in anything we do (running the ball). You have to be able to execute.

“If you don’t play perfect against (Sonora), you’re going to lose. We just got pounded.”

Ripon scored on its first two possessions of the second half – first on a Nick Price-to-Aaron Paschini 21-yard touchdown and then on a Price-to-Duxbury 30-yard TD pass on fourth and 15. A missed extra point had the Indians within 29-20.

Sonora put away the game after making its third interception of Price and converting a 60-yard drive that concluded with Canepa’s fourth TD, a 2-yard run.

Ripon drove into Sonora territory, but Price threw his fourth interception, and that was that.

Sonora now heads into its MLL opener at Argonaut as the clear favorite.

Ripon, meanwhile, opened the season as the coaches’ pick to win the TVL. With teams like Hilmar, Hughson, Escalon and Modesto Christian impressing at times, the Indians know they’ll have to get things turned around quickly.

“This is a test of what we call our brotherhood,” Price said. “It’s easy when you’re winning, but when you’re losing you can start pointing fingers. We just have to stay together.”

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 12:13 AM with the headline "Canepa scores four TDs as Sonora pounds Ripon in battle of small-school powers."