Football Roundup: Atwater wins double-overtime thriller over Golden Valley
Jeremiah Delarosa scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to lift the Atwater High School football team to a wild 35-29 double overtime win over Golden Valley on Friday night at Dave Honey Stadium.
The Cougars (2-2 Central California Conference, 5-3 overall) battled back to force overtime with two late touchdowns.
Golden Valley turned a bad Atwater snap into a score to cut the lead to 29-22 with 7:15 left in the game.
Cougars quarterback Austin Mello then connected with Tyrrell Johnson on a 58-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 29-29 with 1:25 left.
“(Golden Valley) has no quit in them,” said Atwater coach Seneca Ybarra, whose team improved to 3-2 in the CCC and 5-4 overall. “I’ve watched how they came back against Central Valley and won late against Pitman. We knew they would keep fighting.”
Neither team scored in the first overtime and that set the stage for Delarosa’s game-winning touchdown.
“We’re a young team and we just kind of pieced it together,” Ybarra said. “Our kids were resilient, they kept it together.”
Johnson scored two touchdowns for Golden Valley and Mello connected with receiver Jonah White for an earlier score.
Landon Perez returned an interception for a score for Atwater. Jesus Avila and AJ Banks added long touchdown runs for the Falcons.
El Capitan 49, Buhach Colony 14 — Braylen Centeno scored two touchdowns, including a 99-yard run as the Gauchos picked up their fourth win of the season, which is the most in the program’s history.
Diego Ultreras scored on a 50-yard interception return and caught a 41-yard touchdown pass for El Capitan (1-4 CCC, 4-5 overall).
Buhach Colony’s two scores came on a kickoff return and an interception return for a score.
“The defense played fantastic being stuck with short fields and still holding strong,” said El Capitan coach Jordan Irsik. “Super proud of our seniors to get a big win like that after playing three really good teams in a row.”
Monterey Trail 35, Merced 17 — Chase Smith scored two touchdowns, scoring on a run and a reception for the Bears.
Merced drops to 5-3 on the season.
Los Banos 35, Ceres 28 — Tigers quarterback David Herrera threw three touchdowns and ran in two other scores to help Los Banos improve to 5-0 in the Western Athletic Conference and 7-1 overall.
Herrera connected on a pair of touchdowns with receiver Adam Aguilar. Aguilar caught four passes for 103 yards.
Herrera completed 10 of 16 passes for 251 yards and the three scores. He also rushed the ball 16 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
Livingston 28, Ripon 14 — Alex Hernandez rushed for 118 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run as the Wolves picked up their first Trans-Valley League win.
Zach Duran added 80 yards rushing and threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Luis Sandoval. Livingston teammate Max Nolasco carried the ball three times for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Livingston improved to 1-2 in the TVL and 2-6 overall.
Le Grand 34, Gustine 17 — Alexis Granados rushed for 243 yards and three touchdowns to help lead the Bulldogs to a win.
Granados help put the game away with touchdown runs of 57 and 55 yards in the fourth quarter.
Le Grand quarterback Diego Martinez threw two touchdowns to Miguel Moreno and Reyes Diaz.
Le Grand improved to 3-2 in the Southern League and 6-2 overall. Gustine lost its first SL game to drop to 4-1 in league and 4-4 overall.
Dos Palos 42, Tranquillity 14 — Broncos sophomore Andre Flores rushed for 128 yards and four touchdowns as Dos Palos improved to 3-0 in the West Sierra League and 7-1 overall.
Flores scored on runs of 1, 37, 7 and 5 yards. Broncos quarterback Peyton Van Worth added two touchdown runs of 14 and 17 yards in the first quarter to give Dos Palos a 14-0 lead.
Other Merced-area scores:
Mountain House 41, Pacheco 13
Delhi 21, Denair 0
Ripon Christian 49, Mariposa 0
