By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Frosh football claims conference championship
Placeholder Image
Members of the Ceres High frosh football team started plotting during the final minutes of Thursday night's game. Just about every player knew what was going to happen. Head coach Josh Leslie didn't.

"I was totally caught offguard," said Leslie, who was doused with a bucket of water. "I was talking to a player and was trying to get him in the game."

The Bulldogs posted a 33-20 victory over the Davis Spartans in Ceres and captured the Modesto Metro Conference championship.

Both teams came into the game with perfect records in league.

Ceres, which extended its unbeaten streak to six games, improved to 4-0 in the MMC, 7-2 overall.

Davis fell to 3-1 in the league standings.

"It felt great to have a decisive victory," Leslie said.

Ceres scored three touchdowns in the span of 5 minutes, 14 seconds in the second quarter.

Sam Sanchez's 3-yard run capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive.

Miles Valor recovered a fumble at the Davis 19. Zack Atchison threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tony Marquez in the right corner of the end zone.

Mayiauk Kumer recovered or scooped up Jeff Guardoila's fumble on a botched punt (low snap) and returned it 25 yards for a score. Andrew Segmiller forced the fumble with a bone-crushing hit.

Alex Nava's 2-yard touchdown around the left end capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive and cut Ceres' lead to 19-6 at the break.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 26-6 after Davis was penalized for roughing the punter. Five plays later, Marquez scored from 2 yards out around the right end.

The Spartans pulled within 14, 26-12, on Ryan Torkelson's 10-yard pass to Adrian Trevino at the end of the third quarter.

Ceres put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter as Atchison and Rigo Guerra hooked up on a 15-yard pass play.

Torkelson threw a 19-yard TD pass to Josh Wend and Joel Rogers converted the 2-point conversion run to cut Ceres' lead to 13.

With 1:42 remaining, Guerra picked off Torkelson's pass at the Ceres 30 and returned it to the Ceres.

Ceres gained 206 yards of total offense.

The Bulldogs rushed for 177 yards on 37 carries. Marquez ran for 88 yards on 11 carries. Sanchez ran for 87 yards on 20 carries. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier