Competing with just a 13-player roster, the Ceres Saints fell 31-0 to Delta Patriots East in varsity youth football action on a hot-and-humid Saturday at Central Valley High School.
"These kids played with a lot of effort," head coach Zak Muller said. "They just got burnt out. We'll probably be the most-conditioned team at the end of the year."
Ceres dropped to 0-2 in the Delta Youth Sports Association standings.
The Saints have been outscored 45-0 this season.
"Everything was clicking in practice," Muller said. "We lost a player (running back Andrew Chapman) to JV. We had to change our offense and defense. It's going to take time to gel. It will happen."
The Patriots led 16-0 at intermission.
Antonio Cerda scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, and Derek Johnstone caught a 17-yard, double-pass touchdown from T.J. Briggs with 24 seconds to play in the opening half.
"We came into the second half with no momentum," Muller said.
Briggs had a two-yard rushing TD and Nicholas Zalec rumbled for a 33-yard score in the third quarter.
The mercy rule went into effect in the fourth quarter.
Ceres turned the ball over on downs six times during the course of the game. The Saints were limited to a pair of first downs. Quarterback Tony Cordova faced constant pressure.
"If we just pass protected, the outcome would have been totally different," Muller said.
Ceres travels to Brentwood this Saturday to face Delta Patriots West.
"These kids played with a lot of effort," head coach Zak Muller said. "They just got burnt out. We'll probably be the most-conditioned team at the end of the year."
Ceres dropped to 0-2 in the Delta Youth Sports Association standings.
The Saints have been outscored 45-0 this season.
"Everything was clicking in practice," Muller said. "We lost a player (running back Andrew Chapman) to JV. We had to change our offense and defense. It's going to take time to gel. It will happen."
The Patriots led 16-0 at intermission.
Antonio Cerda scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, and Derek Johnstone caught a 17-yard, double-pass touchdown from T.J. Briggs with 24 seconds to play in the opening half.
"We came into the second half with no momentum," Muller said.
Briggs had a two-yard rushing TD and Nicholas Zalec rumbled for a 33-yard score in the third quarter.
The mercy rule went into effect in the fourth quarter.
Ceres turned the ball over on downs six times during the course of the game. The Saints were limited to a pair of first downs. Quarterback Tony Cordova faced constant pressure.
"If we just pass protected, the outcome would have been totally different," Muller said.
Ceres travels to Brentwood this Saturday to face Delta Patriots West.
