Before an overflow crowd at Veterans Stadium, the homefield Pacheco Panther varsity football squad (2-1) defeated their crosstown rivals, the Los Banos Tigers (0-3), by the final score of 17-12.
The defenses for both teams dominated the contest, but the Panthers used a surprise play to secure the victory.
Los Banos would score first on this night, when Josh Gargano (2/8 passing, 31 yards, one touchdown) connected with Owen Baffunno (2 receptions, 37 yards, one touchdown), who made a diving catch in the end zone from 19 yards out. The conversion attempt failed, and the Tigers took the early lead at 6-0.
On their next possession Pacheco coach Jeremy Siemiller called for a seldom used “trick” play, as he replaced quarterback Aiden Pikas with Brennan Watkins. Pikas, however, remained on the field just in front of the Panther bench, and Watkins found him all alone for an easy 11-yard touchdown pass. Rafeal Vargas kicked the conversion to give the Panthers a 7-6 advantage.
The Panther defense lead by Jonathon Munoz, Issac Valencia and Bryan Villa stymied the Tiger offense until late in fourth quarter, while the Los Banos defense paced by Adrian Rivas (10 tackles), Luke Reyna (8 tackles), Brayden Milojevich (7 tackles), Alan Moran (6 tackles), Jared Van loben Sels (5 tackles), Damian Calderon (4 tackles, sack) and Raul Diaz (4 tackles, fumble) kept pace keeping the Panther offense off the scoreboard.
In the middle of the fourth period, however, Panther running back Jacob Sanchez (140 yards and a touchdown) broke free and rambled 70 yards to the endzone and a 13-6 Pacheco lead. Vargas kicked the conversion to increase the lead to 14-6.
Ethan Briseno (6/12 passing, 99 yards, one touchdown) replaced Gargano at quarterback and led the Tigers to a second score.
Los Banos moved 85 yards in 15 plays to narrow the gap to 14-12. Briseno Completed passes to Yahir Zuniga (6 receptions, 78 yards, one touchdown) and Baffunno to move to the Pacheco 19-yard line.
Briseno covered the final 19 yards with a scoring pass to Zuniga. The conversion attempt failed and the score remained 14-12 in favor of the Panthers.
Pacheco would answer back with a final score when Vargas kicked a 32-yard field goal to give the Panthers their 17-12 margin of victory.
In the JV contest the Los Banos Tigers (1-2) defeated the Panthers (0-3) for their first victory of the 2024 season, by the final score of 22-6. The win loss record of the Crosstown Clash is now nine wins for Los Banos and five wins for Pacheco.
The JV Tigers received the opening kickoff and marched 71 yards in 10 plays to score their first touchdown.
Tiger quarterback Moises Perez (4/7 passing, 46 yards, 12 carries, 150 yards, TD) used his arm and his legs to lead Los Banos to the score. Perez connected on passes to Zayden Affonso-Stiers and Martin Pena, accounting for 29 yards and rushed for 26 more to set up a first down at the Panther 16 yard line. Michael Coelho followed a huge block by Justin Sherwood into the endzone for the Tiger touchdown, and a 6-0 Los Banos lead.
Pacheco tied the score at 6-6 when Raul Marino scored on an eight-yard touchdown.
Los Banos would regain the lead when Perez rambled 68 yards for a touchdown and Coehlo added the two-point conversion for a 14-6 Tiger advantage.
Adan Zarate closed out the scoring for the Los Banos junior varsity when he returned a “pick six” interception for a Tiger touchdown. Perez ran in the two-point conversion and a 22-6 final victory for the young Tigers. Los Banos JV Coach Mark Cicairos praised his defense led by Affonso-Stiers (8 tackles), Joshua Montes (7 tackles), Zaiden Nerrell (6 tackles), Zarate (6 tackles, INT), Isis Villagrana ( 6 tackles) and Justin Sherwood (5 tackles).
