Escalon hangs on for thrilling win over Hilmar in Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship

STOCKTON — Each time the Cougars made a play to try to pull away from the Yellowjackets, Hilmar found a way to reel Escalon back in.

But the Cougars clawed their way to a late fourth-quarter insurance touchdown and the defense stopped the Yellowjackets’ last-gasp drive for Escalon to hang on for a 20-13 victory over Hilmar in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship Saturday evening at St. Mary’s High School.

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The Cougars (12-1) await word Sunday on a NorCal playoff game next week with a state bowl game berth on the line.

Cougars junior running back Ryker Peters electrified the fans with a 66-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and sophomore quarterback Donovan Rozevink connected on a beautiful pass to junior receiver Owen Nash in stride for a 45-yard touchdown up the Escalon sideline to take a 14-0 second quarter lead.

Hilmar (11-3) scored on a seven-yard touchdown run by senior Broc Jon Perry with 13 seconds left in the half and looked to tie it up on the Yellowjackets' first possession of the second half by piecing together a 12-play, 80-yard drive, twice aided on fourth downs by Cougars penalties.

Hilmar senior quarterback Jason Pimentel found his favorite receiver in Derek Taylor on a 12-yard scoring strike midway through the third quarter, but senior kicker Andre Alves never got to try for the extra point as a bad snap doomed the play and the Yellowjackets still trailed 14-13.

On the next drive, Rozevink completed a pass over the middle to senior tight end EJ Lewis who raced down the left sideline only to get tackled at the 10-yard line and fumble the ball to Hilmar.

The Yellowjackets had the momentum and a chance to score and take the lead, but Perry fumbled near midfield after stumbling into a hard hit and Cougars senior Tyler Medina pounced on the ball to give his team the ball heading into the fourth quarter.

It was Medina’s third takeaway of the game after intercepting Hilmar’s Pimentel twice in the first half.

“We just had a game plan where we had to stop the ball,” Medina said. “If that means putting me over (as a safety) to defend the pass, then that’s what I’ll do. When they throw it’s kind of nice because it gives me a chance to intercept the ball.”

The teams traded punts early in the final frame, but Cougars junior Logan Anderson’s punt return gave Escalon great field position at the Hilmar 41.

Rozevink’s 36-yard strike to Nash down to the Hilmar three-yard line set up Escalon senior JP Lial to score on a run over the left side on the next play for a 20-13 lead.

“That was unbelievable,” Escalon coach Andrew Beam said. “It was a momentum-changer. It was an unbelievable throw and an even better catch by Owen on the sideline to make that play. It really energized the whole sideline and crowd.”

Escalon kicker Alfonzo Gonzalez missed the extra point to the right and the outcome depended on the Cougars defense with 6:49 remaining.

Hilmar had two possessions to try to score but turned the ball over on downs both times and Rozevink ended the game with a kneel down and coach Beam got his ice bucket bath as the team ran out to celebrate on the field.

“It was cold, but it was worth it,” Beam said. “We’re chasing blue banners. That’s our goal. We’ve got our 10th one and anything now is just bonus football. When you have the amount of experience of these two teams playing against each other, there’s no secrets. That was evident tonight. Everything was hard.”

Escalon rushed 41 times for 188 yards led by Peters with 23 carries for 145 yards, while Anderson added 55 yards on eight carries.

Anderson had a 66-yard kickoff return and later had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown called back on a penalty.

Rozevink completed 9-of-13 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown, while Nash had four catches for 108 yards and a score, and Lewis caught five passes for 58 yards in the win.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Sac-Joaquin Section Division V: Escalon beats Hilmar for championship