MODESTO -- The Johansen High Vikings thought they had won -- until they didn't.
Johansen watched in confusion, and perhaps anger, as Bear River's Luke Wall hit a 24-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Vikings 13-12 last week at Grass Valley.
It was a heartbreaking loss for Johansen (1-2). Bear River, with the clock ticking inside 10 seconds and the home team out of timeouts, was penalized for having too many men on the field. Johansen head coach Rod Smith thought that should have ended the game, but -- after a series of meetings with the officials -- Bear River got one more snap and booted the game-winner.
"We talked to a lot of white hats (referees). Not a lot of clarity going on. Our guys should have won the game," Smith said Monday during the Modesto Quarterback Club's weekly lunch-meeting. "But there are no excuses. We shot ourselves in the foot in the second half."
Johansen led 12-3 going into the fourth quarter and limited Bear River to only 211 yards of offense. The Vikings' goal this week is to set aside the bizarre loss, because they open the Western Athletic Conference season at home Friday night against Beyer. The Patriots (1-2) were idle last week.
NOTES – Four Modesto Christian players were special guests of the quarterback club. The Crusaders, beaten 73-0 last week by Stone Ridge Christian, will welcome Orestimba on homecoming night. ...Central Catholic (2-2) appears to be improving as it enters Valley Oak League action at Patterson. The Raiders overwhelmed Bishop Manogue of Reno 41-28 Saturday morning at Patton Field in a game postponed due to fires in the Reno area. In a mild surprise, Central Catholic carried a 41-14 lead into the fourth quarter. Junior receiver Chase Perino, an emerging player for CC, scored touchdowns on a long pass from Kayden McHenry and a jet-sweep. Central Catholic, which has not lost a VOL game since November of 2019, owns at least a share of eight league titles since it joined the league 10 seasons ago. …
Downey adjusted its defense after halftime to contain talented quarterback Tristan Tia, and the unbeaten Knights (4-0) posted an impressive 47-36 victory. The game featured more than 1,200 yards of offense, most of them by Downey. Carson Lamb is one of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s most productive quarterbacks thus far with 14 passing touchdowns. Edison (0-3),the Knights’ opponent Friday night at Chuck Hughes Stadium, has lost to Grant, Clovis West and Central of Fresno. … Modesto (2-2), off this week, is making progress after its 49-18 win over Central Valley. Vantheesouk Dam rushed for132 yards and two touchdowns, and Israel Ceniceros also had two TDs for the Panthers. “We like where we’re going right now,” coach Dylan Miller said. …
Grace Davis (1-2) begins the Western Athletic Conference season Friday night at Central Valley (at Ceres High). Spartans coach Trevor Mew is a former Central Valley star. While he was in elementary star, he admired former Ceres standout Derrick Goblirsch, who’s now the head coach at CV. … Gregori coach Lamar Wallace wants a faster start in games. The Jaguars (1-3) have dropped three straight after an unsuccessful 39-27 trip to Livermore. Gregori travels to Los Banos in its final non-league tuneup. … Big Valley (2-1), off last week after its win over Mariposa County, will make its Mother Lode League debut Friday night at River Islands. …
Modesto Junior College (2-0) scored on all six first-half possessions to roll past Santa Rosa 51-14 in its home opener. Quarterback Luke Weaver accounted for four touchdowns, two passing (to Joey Stout and Glen Weber and two running. Trace Hernandez returned a punt 75 yards for a TD and Juan Esquivez had two touchdowns. The defense, anchored by linebacker Mario Savala, recorded six sacks and held Santa Rosa to only 229 net yards. The Pirates welcome old nemesis San Mateo to MJC Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m.
GAMES THIS WEEK—Central Catholic at Patterson, Manteca at Lincoln, Mountain House at Oakdale, East Union at Sierra, Edison at Downey, Turlock at Clovis West, Gregori at Los Banos, Atwater at Pitman, Sonora at Escalon, Hughson at Ripon, Hilmar at Ripon Christian, Orestimba at Modesto Christian, Merced at Madera, Kimball at Golden Valley, El Capitan at Waterford, Lodi at Buhach Colony, Pacheco at Lathrop, Grace Davis at Central Valley, Beyer at Johansen, Le Grand at Delhi, Denair at Stone Ridge Christian, Mariposa County at Gustine, Summerville at Bret Harte, Calaveras at Riverbank, Big Valley Christian at River Islands, El Dorado at Argonaut, Rosemont at Amador
