After a heartbreaking loss last Friday, the Dos Palos Bronco varsity football team does not have any time to feel sorry for themselves, because the new season begins with the playoffs starting this Friday.
The Broncos had the undefeated Coalinga Horned Toads on the ropes, but a late blocked punt in the fourth quarter gave Coalinga a short field. They capitalized, scoring the go-ahead touchdown to claim the West Sierra League title with a 17-14 win.
As expected, Dos Palos was placed in Div. IV for the Central Section playoffs. They will host the South High-Bakersfield Spartans this Friday at Frankian Field/Bill Hume Stadium. Gametime is set for 7 p.m.
The winner of this game will take on the winner of No. 2 Exeter and No. 15 Roosevelt-Fresno on November 15th.
Shafter was awarded the No. 1 seed in Div. IV with an overall record of 9-1, their only loss coming against Div. II St. Joseph-Santa Maria. In the early part of the season, the Generals played Dos Palos and came away with a close, 30-28 victory.
The Spartans come into the game with an overall record of 7-3 and 2-2 in the South Sequoia League. They ended their regular season last Friday, losing to the Tehachapi Warriors, 24-21.
South features a passing attack led by quarterback Josh Encinas. Last week, he threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 72 yards. His main target is wide receiver Gyrell Hasley, and their top rusher is Andrew Aguire.
Against Coalinga on a cold, blustery night on the Westside, the Dos Palos defense held the high-powered Horned Toad offense and senior quarterback Noah Tasi in check for all of the night.
The Broncos limited Coalinga to 100 total yards, 51 through the air. Dos Palos stopped two Horned Toad drives on fine, athletic interceptions by junior Jesus Tapia and senior Jacquez Jones.
But just as Coalinga had trouble moving the ball, so did the Broncos. Dos Palos got on the board first in the opening quarter when quarterback Earl Riley IV found Billy Scott over the middle and the speedster dashed in for a 38-yard touchdown pass.
Coalinga answered back in the third quarter to take the lead for the first time. After breaking though with a 25-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3, they took the lead on a 79-yard punt return by Dylan Teixeira.
Riley again put his team back on top in the fourth quarter, hitting Jones for a scoring pass and 14-10 lead.
The blocked punt deep in Bronco territory gave Coalinga a short field, and Tasi carried the ball in from one yard out for the final score.
Besides his two TD passes, Riley was also the Broncos’ leading rusher.
Other teams in the Div. IV bracket include Chowchilla at No. 6. They will host No.11 Cabrillo. Coalinga is also in the bracket as a No. 3 seed and they host No. 14 Washington Union. This will be a rematch of an earlier non-league game won by the Horned Toads.
