LODI FOOTBALL HOSTS WEST
Galt remains in SacJoaquin Section playoff hunt, hosting Rosemont in SVC contest
Lodi has three Tri-City Athletic League football games remaining on its schedule.
Two of the Flames’ three contests are at the Grape Bowl. One of them is today against West. Game time is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
Lodi (0-2 in the TCAL, 1-6) will be without the services of two linemen who are out for the season. Tackle Ethan Bronson (6-foot-3 and 265-pounds) and lineman Noah McGregor — both juniors — have suffered torn ACL and MCL respectively. Bronson also started at defensive tackle. Both linemen were injured in the Flames’ Oct. 5 home game against defending league champion St. Mary’s, which posted a 42-8 win.
“His was a fluke injury,” said Lodi coach George Duenas of Bronson’s injury that happened on only the third play of the game against the Rams. “It was a non-contact injury; he just took a step backwards. That was bad luck for the kid; he works very hard.”
Duenas is confident that Bronson and McGregor will recover from their injuries and be prepared for the 2019 season.
“They have good work ethics and very positive,” said Duenas of the two linemen.
But the show must go on for the Flames.
“We’re a little banged up right now,” Duenas said. “We’ve had a chance to tone (practices) down a little bit this week. But guys are getting healthy. We have enough guys right now to fit in on the varsity that will keep us competitive.”
West (1-1 in the TCAL, 3-4) beat Tokay, 55-28, in their meeting in Tracy also on Oct. 5. The Wolf Pack produced big plays on offense to account for their touchdowns.
“For the most part, Tokay did a decent job in throwing the ball around,” said Duenas of the Tigers, who had 133 passing yards against the Wolf Pack. “They (West) have some big play capability.”
The big thing for the Flames against the Wolf Pack, Duenas stated, is maintaining their opponent’s offense.
“I think this week is critical that we keep everything in front of us and try to make them really execute,” Duenas said. “I think we have a good chance.”
The Flames have had solid performances on the ground. Fullback Larry McDowell leads the way with 451 yards on 84 carries and four touchdowns. Quarterback Logan Stout, also a junior, has 368 yards on 90 carries and seven touchdowns.
Another Flame fullback in Myles Lozano follows at 284 yards on 65 carries and two touchdowns. Running back Angelo Zazzarino has 266 yards on 39 carries and a touchdown. Stout has completed 32 of 69 passes for 505 yards and four touchdowns.
After tonight’s game, Lodi will play at Tracy next Friday. Then the Flames and Tokay will close out the regular season at the Grape Bowl on Friday, Oct. 26.
Tokay
Today in Stockton, Tokay (0-2 in the TCAL, 0-7) plays at Lincoln. Game time is also scheduled at 7:15 p.m.
Tokay coach Michael Holst has been busy on and off the field since the Tigers’ last game at West. The day of that game, his wife, Christine, gave birth to their second child, a boy named Lucas.
“My wife was experiencing contractions Thursday, she went to work Friday, and the contractions were stronger,” Holst said. “We decided that I would go to the game a little later than normal; arrived with about an hour to go before kickoff in case we needed to go to the hospital. Christine didn’t want me to miss the game if she wasn’t in labor.
“So we decided her mom and her would drive to the hospital,” continued
Holst, “and I would go to the game and they would call and let me know if the doctor felt the baby was going to come. I received a text during the national anthem and took off for the hospital. Our coaches stepped up and took on some additional game responsibilities and they kept me in the loop via text messages.”
Now Lucas joins his parents and sister in Sawyer, 2, Michael Holst is back to business teaching in the classroom and preparing his football team against Lincoln.
Tokay takes on Lincoln (1-1 in the TCAL, 1-6), which fell 5117 to Tracy (2-0 in the TCAL, 52) on Oct. 5.
“Lincoln is very athletic,” Holst said. “They have good team speed.”
Tokay fullback Nathan Branco is the team’s leading rusher at 581 yards on 125 carries and five touchdowns.
Galt
Today at Hawk Stadium, Galt (0-2 in the Sierra Valley Conference, 4-3 overall) will host Rosemont (0-2 in the SVC, 3-4).
Galt will play its final three SVC games at Hawk Stadium. But the Warriors will be the on the visitor’s side when they close out the regular season against rival Liberty Ranch on Friday, Oct. 26.
The Warriors still has a chance of earning a SacJoaquin Section playoff berth. The Warriors would need to win their remaining three games — that’s their first and best scenario — and finish the regular season at 7-3. Galt could win two of its next three games, finish 6-4.
Leading the Warriors’ offense is junior quarterback Robert Bulahan Jr., who is now over the 1,000 yards passing mark. He has completed 87 of 154 passes for 1,204 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Jonah Delrio leads the Warriors in rushing at 583 yards, followed by Anthony Chavez at 395 yards and six touchdowns and Blake Beck 198 yards.
Marcelo Lopez has 410 yards receiving for Galt and 10 touchdowns. Alex Rodriguez, Zachary Cirac and Sanchez are closing in 200 yards each.
In their SVC game at Bradshaw Christian on Oct. 5, Bradshaw posted a 42-35 win.
Liberty Ranch
Liberty Ranch (0-2 in the SVC, 2-5) travels to Placerville in El Dorado County to play at El Dorado (2-0 in the SVC, 3-4).
If the Hawks beat the Cougars, they keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Liberty Ranch running back Gabriel Nino has rushed for 641 yards on 70 carries, plus 268 yards receiving and three more TDs. Quarterback Matthew Hopper has rushed for 367 yards and four touchdowns and completed 35 of 77 passes for 567 yards and five TDs.