BRANCO A BRIGHT SPOT FOR TIGERS
Accomplishments: Nathan Branco thought baseball would be his sport.
The Tokay High senior still gets hits, but a different kind as a fullback and linebacker for the Tigers’ football team. Against McNair in the final non-league game for both teams on the Eagles’ field on Friday, Branco, who is one of the team captains, had five receptions for 100 yards in the Tigers’ 48-14 loss.
“(Tokay quarterback Jacob) Varney was putting them in the right spot,” said Branco of the Tigers’ sophomore quarterback, who was moved up from the junior varsity team earlier this month. “Just try to get as many yards as possible.”
Branco scored both of the Tigers’ touchdowns, plus a two-point conversion on the first offensive possession of the game that gave the Tigers an 8-0 lead. On the ground, the 5-foot-11 and 201-pound Branco had 82 yards rushing on 25 carries.
“Our offensive line opened up holes much better than previous weeks,” Branco said. “We had some substitutions and they handled it better than I expected.”
Two of those offensive linemen who created running lanes for Branco are Angel Reyes and Dylan Previtali.
For only the second time this season, Tokay (0-5) had the lead in its non-league finale at McNair, at 8-0; the other was the Tigers’ home and season opener against Patterson (2-3) at the Grape Bowl on Aug. 17. The host Eagles scored a touchdown later in the first quarter to cut the Tigers’ lead to an 8-6 advantage. But by halftime, McNair, celebrating its fall homecoming, led 28-8 en route to the win.
“In the beginning, it was really good,” said Branco of the Tigers’ momentum early in the game.
From his middle linebacker spot, he had 11 tackles and caused a fumble.
Branco has been one of the few bright spots for Tokay this season. The Tigers have averaged 13.8 points per game this season on offense. On defense, opponents have lit up the young Tigers squad, averaging 53.6 points per game.
“We’re 0-5, but we like playing together,” Branco said. “We’re keeping everybody positive and not looking at the record.”
The Tigers have their bye this week. On Friday, Sept. 27, Tokay will open Tri-City Athletic League action at the Grape Bowl against Tracy (32), which also has a bye this week.
After the Tigers’ season is done, Branco has no plans to hang up his helmet and shoulder pads. He’s hoping that a four-year college will show interest in him. If nobody comes knocking, he plans to attend and play at an area junior college.
“I want to take football as far as I can,” Branco said. “At least get a free education out of it.”
Branco is in his 11th year of playing tackle football, having started at age 6. His dad, Sebastian III, got him involved in the sport, according to Nathan.
“My whole family is just all sports,” said Nathan Branco.
A flyer inside of a grocery
store regarding the Lodi Jr. Flames youth football program looking for kids to come out for their teams sparked Branco’s interests.
The youngest Branco said his dad got him to play baseball as a kid. Nathan tried it for one year. He hasn’t picked up a glove or baseball bat since his youth years.
“I wasn’t that good,” laughed Branco.