On Oct. 17, “Homecoming Night,” the Los Banos Tigers varsity football team (4–4 overall and 2–1 in the Central California Conference) routed the Buhach Colony Thunder by 49–9 to remain in second place in the CCC and Sac-Joaquin playoff picture.
After the Thunder kicked an early field goal and a 3–0 lead, the Tigers scored on their first three possessions to open a 20–3 advantage.
Raul Diaz (eight carries, 59 yards and two touchdowns) scored the first TD for Los Banos on a 10-yard plunge. Elias Salvatier added the point after a touchdown kick for a 7–3 Tigers lead.
Angel Valerio (four carries, 12 yards and a TD) made it 14–3 when he followed an Alex Vanderveen block into the end zone from a yard out, and Salvatier added the PAT.
Gavin Blackwood-Estrada (6 of 6 passing, 150 yards, a TD, three carries, 65 yards and a TD) connected with Joshua Gargano (two catches, 88 yards and two TDs) on a 28-yard scoring strike, but the PAT kick was blocked, and the Tigers lead was 20–3.
Dayton Fitzgerald scored on a 9-yard TD run for the Thunder, closing the Tigers lead to 20–9.
After a bad snap on a Thunder punt, Adrian Rivas (13 tackles and a fumble recovery) recovered the loose pigskin at the Thunder 7-yard line.
One play later, Diaz covered the 7 yards, scoring his second TD of the game. When he followed a Dylan Brandi block into the end zone, and when Valerio ran in the 2-point conversion, the rout was on at 28–9.
On their next possession, Estrada completed passes to Ryan Jones and Jack Goodger to set up his 46-yard TD run. Salvatier added the PAT kick to give the locals a 35–9 lead.
Jon Snapp (three carries, 15 yards and a TD) ran the ball on three consecutive plays, with the final carry resulting in a 3-yard TD and a 41–9 Tigers advantage.
Donovan Verducci-Greer took the reins of the Tigers offense in the fourth period, and he accounted for the final Tigers score when he connected with Gargano on a 60-yard scoring pass. Salvatier nailed the PAT kick to give the Tigers their 49–9 victory.
The Tigers defensive duo of Rivas and Valerio recorded 13 tackles each to pace the Tigers defense.
A.J. Valencia and Snapp (eight tackles each), James Jones (seven tackles), Joenamous Gago (four tackles and two quarterback sacks) and Carmello Smith (four tackles and an interception) followed.
On Oct. 24, the Tigers will continue their playoff push when they travel to Merced to play the Golden Valley Cougars. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
