TOKAY TAKES OUT LIBERTY RANCH
In three games, the Lodi High football has scored lots of points. The Edison High squad has a similar habit. Today, the two teams meet in a non-league game at Bear Creek High’s Podesto Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Because of the Lodi Grape Festival taking place near the Grape Bowl through Sunday, Lodi and Edison relocated their game.
Lodi has averaged 33.6 points per game this season. Edison (1-2) has been averaging 24.3 points per game. Which could lead to this question: Could Lodi, which fell to Stagg 41-37 on Sept. 7, be involved in another high-scoring game?
“Edison seems to have a lot of athletes who can make big plays on offense,” said Lodi coach George Duenas, who is basing his evaluation on watching Edison scrimmaging Tokay at the Vikings’ roundrobin scrimmage last month. “Kids that can move and an offensive line that is big and physical.”
On defense, the Vikings have given up an average of 24.3 points in three games, which is good news for Lodi. But the Flames have allowed 25.6 points in three games.
“We have continued to work on our pass defense,” Duenas said. “Edison is another team the has a potent offense, and has big play capability on any given snap.”
In its loss to Stagg, Lodi didn’t punt the entire game.
“We did a great job on controlling the ball last week,” Duenas said. “We still need to get better in the red zone. We had many opportunities in the red zone to put the game out of reach, that we didn’t take advantage of. We need to continue to get better, and learn how to finish games.”
Lodi has four players who are now in triple-digits in rushing yards. Fullback Larry McDowell III leads the way with 240 yards on 41 carries and three touchdowns and quarterback Logan Stout at 210 yards on 43 carries and six touchdowns. Another fullback in Myles Lozano has 157 yards on 34 carries and a touchdown and running back Angelo Zazzarino 102 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.
Today, Tokay (0-4) will wrap up its pre-season at McNair (13).
Two weeks from today, the Tigers open Tri-City Athletic League action against Tracy at the Grape Bowl. Entering that contest, Tokay would like to build some momentum in tonight’s game against the Eagles going into the league opener. Ideally, a win.
“We’ve picked up the intensity in practice and tried to give ourselves more time in game-like situations,” said Tokay coach Michael Holst of this week’s practices. “We have a better grasp of how to handle them come (tonight).”
Posting impressive numbers since his promotion from the Tokay junior varsity team is sophomore quarterback Jacob Varney. In two games, Varney has completed 20 of 45 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Varney was moved up after senior quarterback Chase Howell went down with an ankle injury in the Tigers’ 56-16 loss to Bear Creek at the Grape Bowl three weeks ago.
“Jacob will start,” said Holst of Varney of tonight’s game. “Chase participated in practice for the first time (Wednesday) to test out his injured ankle, but we don’t want to throw him to the wolves with very little game prep this week.”
Tokay running back Nathan Branco has rushed for 336 yards on 62 carries and a touchdown. Skyler Lewis has nine receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers.
On defense, Tiger middle linebacker Johnny Craggs leads the team in tackles with 28. Another sophomore in free safety Joseph Filippini is next at 27 and Branco, at middle linebacker, at 20.
Galt
Tonight at Hawk Stadium, Galt (2-1) welcomes Mira Loma of Sacramento (0-3).
If the host Warriors, who are playing all of their home games at Liberty Ranch’s oncampus stadium this season while Warrior Stadium is being renovated, need reasons to improve to 3-1 against the Matadors, there are two. One, it’s Galt’s homecoming game, and two, it will end a threegame home stand in which they could go 2-1.
In a Sept. 6 non-league game against Valley, Galt rallied from a 34-10 deficit to post a wild 35-34 win over the Vikings. Ethan Reece booted a 27-yard field goal with only 7 seconds left in the game.
Liberty Ranch
On the road today, Liberty Ranch (1-3) wraps up nonleague play against Laguna Creek of Elk Grove at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento.
Running back Gabe Nino has been the Hawks’ spark plug on the ground in recent games, having scored at least a touchdown in the last two games. Contributing in Liberty Ranch’s wing-T offense, which also ran out of the double-wing formation in its 49-21 loss to Bear River on Sept. 7, is quarterback Matthew Hopper. That has helped Galt’s second high school average 23.7 points per game.
On Sept. 28, Liberty Ranch opens Sierra Valley Conference at home against Bradshaw Christian of Elk Grove.
Tokay, Galt and Liberty Ranch’s games also start at 7:30 p.m.
Contact reporter Mike Bush at mikeb@lodinews.com. Follow on Twitter: @MBushLodiSports.