MODESTO – The first thing to know about Vanntheesouk Lucky Dam is that his middle name is not a nickname.
The second thing to know is that it’s better than being named “Unlucky.”
“My mom was not in agreement (with the name),” Dam admitted. “It was Dad.”
Look at it another way: Dam is making a name for himself at Modesto High, which won its first game of the season last week.
Dam rushed for more than 100 yards and scored three touchdowns during the Panthers’ 57-0 shakedown of Bear Creek. Modesto (1-1) hasn’t enjoyed a winning season in six years, so the program will latch on to any progress.
“I’m proud of our team for bouncing back. Our spirits are up,” Dam said, in reference to Modesto’s 37-0 loss to Johansen two weeks ago. “When I see a team believing in themselves, it’s a beautiful thing.”
Dam, one of seven Modesto seniors who were special guests at Tuesday’s Modesto Quarterback Club lunch-meeting, tries to make up for lost time. He played only six games last fall due to a hip injury, and the Panthers slumped to 1-9.
Things may turn out better this season. The seniors are strengthened by a junior class that went 8-2 on the junior varsity level last fall.
Modesto still musts sort out affairs at quarterback, where juniors Israel Ceniceros and Korde Banks have split time. Meanwhile, senior linebacker Melea “M.J.” Uili shined last week with eight tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception.
The Panthers will be tested by Sierra on Friday night at Downey’s Chuck Hughes Stadium.
BEYER – When it ended, the Beyer Patriots drenched coach Mike Young and celebrated like, in Young’s words, “We had just won the Super Bowl.”
Young said he apologized to West coaches for his team’s over-the-top reaction , but it was entirely understandable. Beyer snapped a 32-game on-the-field losing streak with a 26-20 victory.
Eli Lopez’s second of two touchdown runs broke a 20-20 tie in the fourth quarter, and the Beyer defense forced a turnover to trigger the celebration. Technically, the streak stopped at 30 late last season when the Patriots’ 32-12 loss to Pacheco was reversed to a win due to the use of an ineligible player.
Ending the grief on the field counted for much more. Beyer’s last earned win before last week was April 15, 2020, over Grace Davis 14-0 during the pandemic-shortened season.
“To see the guys fight back was great. The first win is always the toughest one,” Young said. “Hopefully, we can stack on that.”
The Beyer offense has featured quarterback Nolan Foehringer and receiver Sebastian Chavez Romo.
NOTES – Central Catholic (1-1) leaves Wednesday morning for its two-day bus trip to Portland for a Friday night game against Central Catholic, Oregon’s top-ranked prep team. The Raiders again will climb aboard after the game for an all-nighter home. Correcting the errors made during CC’s 27-14 loss to St. Mary’s will be a clear goal. “Our inexperience showed,” assistant coach Myron Larson said. “We blew two coverages. You can’t do that against a good team with that kind of speed and skill.”…
Downey (2-0) overcame the allowance of two special-teams touchdowns with non-stop offense to turn back Elk Grove 53-42. The Knights’ clever fake-punt and pass went viral, but quarterback Carson Lamb (328 passing yards, five touchowns) did even more damage. “Our defense giving up only one touchdown in the second half was the difference,” coach Jeremy Plaa said. Downey has beaten Merced four straight times going into Friday night’s meeting on the Bears’ campus. … Grace Davis (1-1) was encouraged by allowing only nine points in the second half of its 30-7 loss to Sierra. The Spartans take a three-hour bus ride to Grass Valley for this week’s game against Bear River. …
Johansen (1-1), which stumbled to a 42-14 loss to Orestimba, will regroup during its bye week. “We made a lot of mistakes,” coach Rod Smith said. “We did not come out in the right frame of mind.”…Gregori (1-1) also paid dearly for its slow start during a 42-12 loss at home to Merced. “The focus already is better this week,” coach Lamar Wallace said as the Jaguars face another test at home against high-scoring Atwater. …
Modesto Christian, 0-1 after last week’s 12-0 loss to River Islands (the Riptide’s first-ever win), hope to fortify its thin roster with three new players who will be eligible soon. The Crusaders already feature imposing 6-foot-8 tackles in Alhassan Iddrissu and Blake Colbert. MC will be at home this week against Berean Christian of Walnut Creek. …Big Valley Christian, 1-1 after a 35-22 loss to Waterford, will welcome Mariposa County. …
Modesto Junior College, the three-time reigning Valley Conference champion, is ranked 12th in the nation going into its opener Friday night at Laney. The Pirates will feature several returning stars, including All-State quarterback Luke Weaver. Meanwhile, MJC enjoyed the two-touchdown performance of ex-Pirate and Manteca grad Jacob De Jesus during UNLV’s victory over Houston.
THIS WEEK—Central Catholic at Central Catholic (at Portland), Manteca at Laguna Creek (at Cosumnes River College), Oakdale a tEscalon, Lathrop at Patterson, Sierra at Modesto (at Downey), Mountain House atTracy, Ripon at East Union, Downey at Merced, Central at Turlock, Atwater at Gregori, Enochs at Buhach Colony, Pitman at Hughson, Sonora at Antelope, Calaveras at Ripon Christian, Berean Christian at Modesto Christian, Los Banos at Pacheco, Elk Grove at Golden Valley, Beyer at El Capitan (at Merced College), Grace Davis at Bear River, Livingston at Argonaut, Stone Ridge Christian at Chowchilla, Gustine at Delta, Waterford at Summerville, Madera South at Delhi, Denair at Bret Harte, Mariposa County at Big Valley Christian,Linden at Destiny Christian, River Islands at Chavez, Amador at Grace
