Prior to kickoff of the Ceres High-Weston Ranch varsity football game, the lights were turned off at Bulldog Stadium.
When power was restored, Ceres fans erupted with excitement as their team walked in a straight line nearby before rushing onto the field.
The visiting Cougars provided the fireworks with a 21-point barrage in the opening five minutes and coasted to a 35-15 homecoming-spoiling win Friday night.
"That's a team we should have beat," Bulldog linebacker Hadon Lopez said. "I just think we overlooked them."
Weston Ranch, which improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Valley Oak League, exacted some revenge for last season's loss to Ceres High.
The injury-riddled Bulldogs remained winless (0-6, 0-3).
"The whole atmosphere fired us up," Cougars running back/linebacker Deon Eley said. "It (Ceres High's pre-game introduction) gave us motivation. We felt disrespected. We wanted revenge."
The Bulldogs tallied a season-high seven turnovers and just 161 yards of offense. Ceres High had minus-15 yards rushing in the first half.
George Borden and junior-varsity call-up Nick Welsh split time at quarterback in place of Josh Edwards, who was lost for the season with a knee injury during Week 4.
Borden completed 8 of 20 passes for 92 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Welsh finished 1-for-10 with 14 yards and one pick.
Zach Naylor, another player promoted from JV, rushed for 33 yards and a TD on 11 carries. He fumbled twice.
Justin Canatsy contributed 75 yards and a score while playing receiver.
Eley accounted for 80 of Weston Ranch's 144 rushing yards. He also scored twice on the ground.
Embry Allen completed 6 of 12 passes for 70 yards with a pair of TDs to Angell Mayfield.
Melvin Allen had a 74-yard interception return score in the third quarter.
Jason Steele picked off three Bulldog passes, including one in the end zone.
Weston Ranch built a commanding 27-9 lead in the first half.
Eley scored on runs of 43 and 2 yards, and Embry Allen threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Mayfield in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Lopez registered a safety and Borden threw a 16-yard TD pass to Canatsy to cut the deficit to 21-9. Allen and Mayfield combined on a 12-yard scoring play 4 minutes 38 seconds later.
Naylor capped the game's scoring with a 4-yard rushing touchdown at the 11:56 mark of the fourth quarter.
"We tried to stay positive," Lopez said. "In the second half, we started working as a team."
Hadon finished the contest with a season-high 20 tackles, to go along with one fumble recovery.
Naylor and Jesse Guiterrez had six tackles apiece.
Brandon Jolley totaled five tackles and one sack.
Matthew Cardelli and Vince Tomao both intercepted a pass.
Nick Sandoval and Marc Ortega recovered fumbles.
Welsh added three tackles.
Ceres High will play at Manteca (2-1 VOL) this Friday.
When power was restored, Ceres fans erupted with excitement as their team walked in a straight line nearby before rushing onto the field.
The visiting Cougars provided the fireworks with a 21-point barrage in the opening five minutes and coasted to a 35-15 homecoming-spoiling win Friday night.
"That's a team we should have beat," Bulldog linebacker Hadon Lopez said. "I just think we overlooked them."
Weston Ranch, which improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Valley Oak League, exacted some revenge for last season's loss to Ceres High.
The injury-riddled Bulldogs remained winless (0-6, 0-3).
"The whole atmosphere fired us up," Cougars running back/linebacker Deon Eley said. "It (Ceres High's pre-game introduction) gave us motivation. We felt disrespected. We wanted revenge."
The Bulldogs tallied a season-high seven turnovers and just 161 yards of offense. Ceres High had minus-15 yards rushing in the first half.
George Borden and junior-varsity call-up Nick Welsh split time at quarterback in place of Josh Edwards, who was lost for the season with a knee injury during Week 4.
Borden completed 8 of 20 passes for 92 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Welsh finished 1-for-10 with 14 yards and one pick.
Zach Naylor, another player promoted from JV, rushed for 33 yards and a TD on 11 carries. He fumbled twice.
Justin Canatsy contributed 75 yards and a score while playing receiver.
Eley accounted for 80 of Weston Ranch's 144 rushing yards. He also scored twice on the ground.
Embry Allen completed 6 of 12 passes for 70 yards with a pair of TDs to Angell Mayfield.
Melvin Allen had a 74-yard interception return score in the third quarter.
Jason Steele picked off three Bulldog passes, including one in the end zone.
Weston Ranch built a commanding 27-9 lead in the first half.
Eley scored on runs of 43 and 2 yards, and Embry Allen threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Mayfield in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Lopez registered a safety and Borden threw a 16-yard TD pass to Canatsy to cut the deficit to 21-9. Allen and Mayfield combined on a 12-yard scoring play 4 minutes 38 seconds later.
Naylor capped the game's scoring with a 4-yard rushing touchdown at the 11:56 mark of the fourth quarter.
"We tried to stay positive," Lopez said. "In the second half, we started working as a team."
Hadon finished the contest with a season-high 20 tackles, to go along with one fumble recovery.
Naylor and Jesse Guiterrez had six tackles apiece.
Brandon Jolley totaled five tackles and one sack.
Matthew Cardelli and Vince Tomao both intercepted a pass.
Nick Sandoval and Marc Ortega recovered fumbles.
Welsh added three tackles.
Ceres High will play at Manteca (2-1 VOL) this Friday.
