With their victory, the Pacheco Panther varsity football team kept their hopes of a WAC conference title alive Friday, Oct. 14, in Mt. House, by defeating the Mustangs 21-13.
The Panthers improved their 2022 season record to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the WAC, and a second-place tie with Lathrop.
Brandon DeReza (subbing for the injured Able Bravo) gave the Panther offense a considerable spark, carrying the ball 41 times for 210 yards and two touchdowns.
Daniel Scott scored the first Panther touchdown when he scrambled 34 yards to the endzone. Arturo Anguiano kicked the first of his three PAT’s giving Pacheco a 7-0 lead.
DeReza scored two touchdowns on the Panther’s next two possessions, the first from one yard out and the second from five yards away, giving Pacheco a commanding 21-0 lead.
The great Pacheco defense kept the Mustangs off the board until very late in the fourth quarter, when the Mustangs scored two meaningless touchdowns. Scott had an excellent night for the Panthers, intercepting three Mustang passes. Daven Cabley forced and recovered a fumble, and Manuir Gakhal had five tackles, including one for a loss and a quarterback sack.
