Downey High School pulled away late in a 24-6 non-conference victory over Ceres High in varsity football Friday night at Chuck Hughes Stadium.
"It's really disappointing because we know we had the ability to win that game," Bulldogs receiver/cornerback Martino Bertolotti said. "Things just didn't go our way. We have to focus more and reduce our turnovers. A couple of slip-ups cost us."
Ceres High dropped to 0-2 on the year.
The Knights improved to 2-0 overall.
The Bulldogs have lost 12 straight games dating back to last season.
Hadon Lopez had a 57-yard touchdown run, 16 tackles and one sack against Downey.
Bertolotti intercepted two passes. On offense, he had two receptions for 29 yards.
Josh Edwards tossed for 132 yards.
The Bulldogs had just 178 yards of offense and committed three turnovers.
Lopez's TD run pulled the Bulldogs within six points in the third quarter against the Knights.
Downey scored 12 unanswered points to put the game out of reach.
The Bulldogs will play at Calaveras on Friday. The non-league affair will get underway at 7 p.m.
JV victorious over Downey
A year ago, Brent Ward, David Brazil, Dustin Baisdon, George Borden and the Ceres High freshman football team suffered through an 0-10 season.
The quartet propelled the JV Bulldogs to a 21-12 victory over Downey on Friday at Chuck Hughes Stadium, ending an 11-game winless streak.
"This is their 12th game together," Ceres High assistant coach Anthony Dean said. "They finally won. They deserve it."
Ward rumbled for 154 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs, who improved to 1-1 overall.
Brent also had a standout game at linebacker with 16 tackles and two sacks.
"He's a coach's dream," Dean said. "He's an iron man. I had to pull him out a couple times because he was exhausted."
Brazil and Borden split time at quarterback.
David's lone completion resulted in a 6-yard touchdown.
George finished 3 of 7 for 47 yards.
Baisdon accounted for the TD reception and converted all three of his point-after kicks. He also handled punting chores.
Will Porter added 82 rushing yards.
"Our offensive line did a great job," Dean said. "We're so proud of them."
Porter, Wes Ward, Chris Husong, Sean Lo, Matt Miranda and Vince Tomao all contributed on defense.
Ceres High rallied from a 6-0 deficit at the break.
Ward scored on a 36-yard run, and Brazil and Baisdon hooked up for a score to give the Bulldogs an eight-point lead in the third quarter.
Downey cut the deficit to 14-12 in the fourth quarter.
Ward's 4-yard TD run, which was set up by Borden's 30-yard pass to Baisdon, and Dustin's PAT sealed the hardfought victory.
"I'm hoping this will help us for the rest of the season," Dean said. "They're a good group of kids."
Freshmen
The Bulldogs (1-1) pounded the Knights, 32-0, on Friday in Modesto.
Nick Welsh accounted for four of his team's touchdowns, including two rushing.
He completed TD passes to Bryson Waring and Zach Naylor.
"It's really disappointing because we know we had the ability to win that game," Bulldogs receiver/cornerback Martino Bertolotti said. "Things just didn't go our way. We have to focus more and reduce our turnovers. A couple of slip-ups cost us."
Ceres High dropped to 0-2 on the year.
The Knights improved to 2-0 overall.
The Bulldogs have lost 12 straight games dating back to last season.
Hadon Lopez had a 57-yard touchdown run, 16 tackles and one sack against Downey.
Bertolotti intercepted two passes. On offense, he had two receptions for 29 yards.
Josh Edwards tossed for 132 yards.
The Bulldogs had just 178 yards of offense and committed three turnovers.
Lopez's TD run pulled the Bulldogs within six points in the third quarter against the Knights.
Downey scored 12 unanswered points to put the game out of reach.
The Bulldogs will play at Calaveras on Friday. The non-league affair will get underway at 7 p.m.
JV victorious over Downey
A year ago, Brent Ward, David Brazil, Dustin Baisdon, George Borden and the Ceres High freshman football team suffered through an 0-10 season.
The quartet propelled the JV Bulldogs to a 21-12 victory over Downey on Friday at Chuck Hughes Stadium, ending an 11-game winless streak.
"This is their 12th game together," Ceres High assistant coach Anthony Dean said. "They finally won. They deserve it."
Ward rumbled for 154 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs, who improved to 1-1 overall.
Brent also had a standout game at linebacker with 16 tackles and two sacks.
"He's a coach's dream," Dean said. "He's an iron man. I had to pull him out a couple times because he was exhausted."
Brazil and Borden split time at quarterback.
David's lone completion resulted in a 6-yard touchdown.
George finished 3 of 7 for 47 yards.
Baisdon accounted for the TD reception and converted all three of his point-after kicks. He also handled punting chores.
Will Porter added 82 rushing yards.
"Our offensive line did a great job," Dean said. "We're so proud of them."
Porter, Wes Ward, Chris Husong, Sean Lo, Matt Miranda and Vince Tomao all contributed on defense.
Ceres High rallied from a 6-0 deficit at the break.
Ward scored on a 36-yard run, and Brazil and Baisdon hooked up for a score to give the Bulldogs an eight-point lead in the third quarter.
Downey cut the deficit to 14-12 in the fourth quarter.
Ward's 4-yard TD run, which was set up by Borden's 30-yard pass to Baisdon, and Dustin's PAT sealed the hardfought victory.
"I'm hoping this will help us for the rest of the season," Dean said. "They're a good group of kids."
Freshmen
The Bulldogs (1-1) pounded the Knights, 32-0, on Friday in Modesto.
Nick Welsh accounted for four of his team's touchdowns, including two rushing.
He completed TD passes to Bryson Waring and Zach Naylor.
