Final tune-up games for Lodi, Galt
Two Lodi area high school football teams will get one more test today before league play begins next week.
Today at 7:15 p.m., Lodi (1-3) plays at Bear Creek (31) at Podesto Field. This is the second consecutive week Lodi will be playing at the Bruins’ field.
Entering tonight’s final pre-season game, Lodi head coach George Duenas and his coaching staff have been stressing the Flames’ quicker movements on both sides of the football.
“Working on executing offensively and stopping the run this week,” Duenas said.
Leading the Flames’ offense on the ground is fullback Larry McDowell, who has 332 yards on 57 carries and three touchdowns. Next on the list is quarterback Logan Stout (242 yards), who has scored six touchdowns. Myles Lozano, a junior fullback, has 165 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Now comes the Flames’ test of playing a Bear Creek squad that its offense is led by quarterback Quincy Glasper (58 of 102 passes for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns) and running back Terry Holmes (464 yards on 63 carries and nine touchdowns). Chaz Davis is one of the Bruins’ deep threats, pulling in 44 receptions for 513 yards and eight touchdowns.
“They do some good things offensively, especially running the ball,” Duenas said.
On defense, the Bruins have given up an average of 31 points per game.
“Bear Creek plays a highrisk defense,” said Duenas. “They are going to load the box and go man coverage. They are very aggressive, which may hurt them at times, but they have been in their opponents face, causing them to make multiple errors. Their defense has put them in great field position for their offense, which is why they are 3-1. The points they give up is deceiving, since their defense makes up for it with turnovers and field position.”
Tonight’s game also gives Duenas and other football head coaches in the Sac-Joaquin Section time to decide which juniors will play on the varsity squad, and which ones will play on a school’s junior varsity team. Two years ago, the California Interscholastic Federation, which is the governing body for high school athletics in California, passed a bylaw that allows high school varsity coaches in football and all sports to move juniors from the varsity and JV teams before the start of league play. Juniors can still move up to the varsity level after league play begins.
“We have been moving players up and down throughout the season,” Duenas said. “We have quite a few on the bubble. Which makes it great for competition at practice.”
In its Sept. 21 non-league
game against Edison at Podesto Field, the Vikings tore apart the Flames’ offense that led to a 41-0 win over Lodi. Now the Flames are looking to spark their offense against the Bruins’ defense.
Lodi starts Tri-City Athletic League at Lincoln (0-4) on Friday, Sept. 28. The Trojans host Inderkum of Sacramento (4-0) tonight.
Galt
Today in Stockton, Galt (3-1) takes on Franklin (0-4) on the Yellowjackets’ field.
Galt quarterback Robert Bulahan Jr., a junior who started as a sophomore last year, has completed 33 of 65 passes for 530 yards and 10 touchdowns this season Some of his targets have been Marcelo Lopez (10 receptions for 198 yards and five touchdowns), Alex Rodriguez (91 yards and two touchdowns) and Anthony Sanchez (12 receptions for 77 yards).
“We are gradually building our playbook each week.” said Galt coach Tim Cobleigh.
The Warriors will be facing a Yellowjackets’ offense that is averaging 18.2 points per game. But Franklin’s defense has given up 43.2 points per game.
“Speed and athleticism,” said Cobleigh of Franklin. “We know they can score points they have scored on good teams. We know defensively we have to shut them down and control the ball on offense.”
In its 51-0 win over Mira Loma of Sacramento at Hawk Stadium — Liberty Ranch’s on-campus stadium — on Sept. 21, Galt led 37-0 at halftime over the Marators.
“The kids’ confidence is high in knowing that if they go into a football game and play good that the results are going to be in their favor,” Cobleigh said.
Galt begins Sierra Valley Conference action on Sept. 28 at El Dorado (1-4).
Tokay (0-5) and Liberty Ranch (2-3) have their bye this week.
On Sept. 28 at the Grape Bowl, Tokay opens TCAL action against Tracy (3-2). On the same day, Liberty Ranch, Galt’s second high school, starts SVC play at Hawk Stadium, against Bradshaw Christian of Elk Grove (2-2), which wraps up its non-conference schedule at Woodland Christian (1-3) tonight. Contact reporter Mike Bush at mikeb@lodinews.com. Follow on Twitter: @MBushLodiSports.