On Sept. 5, the Los Banos Tigers freshman football team (2-0-1) shut out the Pacheco Panthers (0-3), its cross-town rival, by 36-0 at the Veterans Stadium at the Pacheco campus.
Los Banos remained in the lead from start to finish. The Tigers scored on its first four offensive possessions, and its defense recorded an interception return for a fifth Tigers touchdown.
Zachery Yates gave the Tigers field position when he tackled the Panthers’ punter on the Pacheco 11-yard line.
Three plays later, Bradley Villagrana went over the goal line from a yard out to give Los Banos a 6-0 early first-period lead.
The Tigers’ defense, led by Miranda Navarrete, Jesus Hernandez and Isaac Garza, forced a Panthers three and out, resulting in a Pacheco punt.
This time, Los Banos marched 79 yards in 12 plays, with quarterback Zaevin Cancino (8/14 passing, 115 yards, 2 touchdowns, 11 carries, 70 yards and a TD) providing most of the offense.
Cancino carried the ball five times on the drive and connected on passes to Elijah Chiappetta (3 catches, 47 yards and a TD), Maggio Carter and Garza to cover the 79 yards. Cancino scored on a 2-yard plunge.
The young Tigers made it 20-0 before halftime when Cancino connected with Garza on a 27-yard TD pass. Cancino then hit Chiappetta with the 2-point conversion for the 20-0 advantage.
More of the same happened in the second half. The Tigers took the second-half kickoff and marched 60 yards in 10 plays. Cancino completed a 24-yard scoring strike to Chiappetta, and Villagrana ran in the 2-point conversion for a 28-0 Los Banos advantage.
Chiappetta closed out the scoring for the Tigers when he returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown. With the conversion, Los Banos had its 36-0 win over the Panthers.
