With the playoffs looming closer, the stakes are higher and the games closer than ever. Three of our top five games this week weren't decided until the closing seconds of the game.
Napa 28, Vacaville 21
The Indians (5-3, 3-0 Monticello Empire League) and Bulldogs were headed to overtime before Indians quarterback Austin Spinelli decided that would take too long. When he got the ball back, Spinelli led the offense 80 yards down the field and tossed the go-ahead touchdown, just in time for the two-minute warning.
After fighting back from a 21-7 deficit, Vacaville (5-3, 2-1) couldn’t answer on the ensuing drive and now Napa takes control of the MEL and controls its own destiny.
Vacaville scored first when wideout Beau Lopez took a slant 84 yards for a touchdown on the team’s opening drive of the game. But the Bulldogs had no answer for Indians quarterback Austin Spinelli. Spinelli finished with 120 rushing yards and three touchdowns just on the ground.
Sheldon 20, Grant 14
Sheldon (6-2, 3-2 Delta League) pulled off the miracle when running back Graylon Lindsey ran in the go-ahead touchdown with just seconds remaining in the game to push the Huskies past Grant (6-2, 3-2).
Lawrence Hardy’s 29-yard touchdown reception and Tyree Marcelle’s 24-yard touchdown run in the first half gave Grant what seemed to be a comfortable 14-point lead heading into halftime. But Sheldon responded with a 45-yard interception return in the third quarter and Lindsey’s first touchdown run to tie up the score.
The win pushes Grant out of a tie for first place in the highly contested league and leaves room for Sheldon to make another jump up the rankings if Grant can beat first-place Davis (4-4, 4-1) next week.
Elk Grove 21, Monterey Trail 14
Bumps and bruises weren’t enough to stop Elk Grove running back Zion Thomas as he ran all over Monterey Trail (5-3, 2-3), scoring all of his teams touchdowns. Thomas racked up 128 yards on 24 carries while battling shoulder and leg injuries.
The Mustangs opened the game with a time-consuming 11 minute drive and capped it off with a touchdown. But the offense stalled after the first drive and the Mustangs couldn’t score again until the fourth quarter. In the meantime, Thomas and Elk Grove (7-1, 4-1 Delta League) got to work scoring 21 unanswered points.
Mustangs quarterback Robert Holt threw his only touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to cut the lead down to one possession but the Mustangs last drive ended in an incompletion.
Elk Grove stays right behind Davis (4-4) in the Delta League with a game against Sheldon (6-2) looming ahead in two weeks.
Roseville 35, Whitney 14
Running back Jay Razzano led the Tigers (7-1, 4-1 Capital Valley Conference) with 222 rushing yards and two touchdowns as Roseville handed the Wildcats (6-2, 4-2) their first league loss of the season. Roseville jumped ahead of Whitney for second place in the CCC but remains behind undefeated Sonora.
Quarterback Nick Martig struggled early on, throwing two interceptions in the second quarter. He shrugged those turnovers off later in the quarter when he found his tight end Jimmy Jaggers in the endzone to put the Tigers up 14-7 at the break. Martig finished with two touchdowns, two interceptions and 121 yards passing.
Whitney can’t climb any higher than third place in the CVC but will face Antelope in the final game of the season and prepare for the playoffs after.
Amador 24, Calaveras 14
Daylan Thetford rushed for three touchdowns including a dazzling 91-yard run that helped the Thundering Herd (7-1, 4-1 Mother Lode League) beat Calaveras (6-2, 2-2) and remain in second place in the Mother Lode League.
Amador jumped out to a 17-0 lead thanks to Thetford before Calaveras quarterback Kyle Byrd tossed a 15-yard touchdown to receiver Shad Nordahl to cut the lead to 10.
Noah Preuss finished with 116 yards on 16 carries and scored his only touchdown on a three-yard run for Calaveras.
Best of the Rest
Central Valley 37, Pacheco 16
Pacheco’s offense coughed up the ball five times and generally couldn’t get out of its own way. Central Valley broke the game open when Hawks quarterback Willie Soriano improvised a 52-yard touchdown run on a broken play to put the Hawks up 23-16.
After the touchdown, Panthers quarterback Aric Barton fumbled and the Hawks (7-1, 3-0 Western Athletic Association) scooped and scored to build on the lead. Barton finished 11 of 22 for 148 yards and two touchdowns for Pacheco (4-4, 2-1).
Merced 42, Buhach Colony 13
The Bears (6-2, 3-1 Central California Conference) led by 33 points at halftime and otherwise had full control over the Thunder (4-5, 2-3). Three different Bears scored a touchdown before running back Ulonzo Gilliam capped off the first half with a rushing and receiving touchdown. He finished the game with 93 rushing yards on 13 carries and 36 receiving yards on three receptions.
Merced outgained Buhach Colony 281-110 and didn’t let the Thunder score until the third quarter.
The Bears still have a chance to jump into second place in the Central California Conference if they can beat Turlock in the last game of the season.
Downey 26, Modesto 6
For the fifth year in a row, Downey (7-2, 5-0) clinched at least a share of the Modesto Metro Conference title with a solid victory over Modesto (6-2, 3-1).
Malcome Green led Downey on the ground by accumulating 160 rushing yards on 24 carries, including a 61-yard touchdown in the second quarter to extend the lead to 14-0. Brett Neves went 17 of 26 for 137 yards and finished with a rushing and passing touchdown.
Downey will take on second place Gregori (6-2, 3-1) two weeks from now as they have a bye week next week.
