Central Valley High School varsity football players gathered in the end zone following a 34-7 loss to Escalon in the preseason finale for both teams Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
The Hawks squandered a chance to make a statement heading into Valley Oak League play.
"It just didn't happen," head coach Tim Garcia said. "We came out flat. We didn't execute. We didn't make plays. We didn't play well at all tonight."
Central Valley dropped to 1-2 overall.
Escalon improved to 2-1.
"Our heads weren't into the game," junior quarterback Trevor Mew said. "We were pumped up all week. Then we came out flat and made too many mistakes. I don't know what it is but we got to figure it out."
For the second straight week, Central Valley's offense sputtered in the red zone. The Hawks had two drives end on interceptions thrown by Mew to Jake Loureiro and Jacob Caton in the second quarter.
In the first quarter, Escalon's Jesus Duran recovered a DeAngelo Williams fumble at the Cougars' 46-yard line. Central Valley's top receiver lost the ball while fighting for extra yardage.
The Hawks stalled at the Escalon 6 with 11:02 left in the game. Mew's pass fell incomplete.
Central Valley had no answers for Escalon's powerful rushing attack, which racked up 331 yards on 47 carries. Caton, Duran and quarterback Nick Aprile gained 89, 83 and 59 yards, respectively, with one touchdown apiece. Jake Loureiro also scored once.
The Cougars mounted scoring drives of 53, 65 and 87 yards en route to building a 20-0 lead in the first half.
Aprile scored on a 6-yard run in the first quarter.
Duran and Caton scored on runs of 2 and 34 yards in the second quarter.
"The kids didn't execute the game plan," Garcia said. "The coaches didn't make any adjustments. We just looked bad."
The two teams were greeted by drizzle in the third quarter.
Escalon continued to pound the ball. Aprile's seventh handoff resulted in a 2-yard TD run by Loureiro. The Cougars marched 55 yards in eight plays.
In the fourth quarter, Central Valley defensive back Gerald Garcia returned a fumble 27 yards for a touchdown to prevent the shutout.
Escalon's Thomas Ray returned a botched Central Valley punt 11 yards for a score with 4:22 left in regulation.
Central Valley generated 210 yards of offense.
Mew completed 17 of 36 passes for 171 yards with two interceptions.
Rick Rogers caught nine passes for 90 yards.
Gerald Garcia caught four passes for 35 yards.
Joaquin Casas accounted for 28 of the Hawks' 39 rushing yards. He carried the ball seven times.
Central Valley's first league game will be played on the road this Friday in Manteca at 7 p.m.
"We just got to turn the page and get ready for Sierra," Mew said. "We're going to have to get our confidence level back up."
The Hawks squandered a chance to make a statement heading into Valley Oak League play.
"It just didn't happen," head coach Tim Garcia said. "We came out flat. We didn't execute. We didn't make plays. We didn't play well at all tonight."
Central Valley dropped to 1-2 overall.
Escalon improved to 2-1.
"Our heads weren't into the game," junior quarterback Trevor Mew said. "We were pumped up all week. Then we came out flat and made too many mistakes. I don't know what it is but we got to figure it out."
For the second straight week, Central Valley's offense sputtered in the red zone. The Hawks had two drives end on interceptions thrown by Mew to Jake Loureiro and Jacob Caton in the second quarter.
In the first quarter, Escalon's Jesus Duran recovered a DeAngelo Williams fumble at the Cougars' 46-yard line. Central Valley's top receiver lost the ball while fighting for extra yardage.
The Hawks stalled at the Escalon 6 with 11:02 left in the game. Mew's pass fell incomplete.
Central Valley had no answers for Escalon's powerful rushing attack, which racked up 331 yards on 47 carries. Caton, Duran and quarterback Nick Aprile gained 89, 83 and 59 yards, respectively, with one touchdown apiece. Jake Loureiro also scored once.
The Cougars mounted scoring drives of 53, 65 and 87 yards en route to building a 20-0 lead in the first half.
Aprile scored on a 6-yard run in the first quarter.
Duran and Caton scored on runs of 2 and 34 yards in the second quarter.
"The kids didn't execute the game plan," Garcia said. "The coaches didn't make any adjustments. We just looked bad."
The two teams were greeted by drizzle in the third quarter.
Escalon continued to pound the ball. Aprile's seventh handoff resulted in a 2-yard TD run by Loureiro. The Cougars marched 55 yards in eight plays.
In the fourth quarter, Central Valley defensive back Gerald Garcia returned a fumble 27 yards for a touchdown to prevent the shutout.
Escalon's Thomas Ray returned a botched Central Valley punt 11 yards for a score with 4:22 left in regulation.
Central Valley generated 210 yards of offense.
Mew completed 17 of 36 passes for 171 yards with two interceptions.
Rick Rogers caught nine passes for 90 yards.
Gerald Garcia caught four passes for 35 yards.
Joaquin Casas accounted for 28 of the Hawks' 39 rushing yards. He carried the ball seven times.
Central Valley's first league game will be played on the road this Friday in Manteca at 7 p.m.
"We just got to turn the page and get ready for Sierra," Mew said. "We're going to have to get our confidence level back up."
