MODESTO—The Turlock High Bulldogs made a beeline for the eastern end zone at Patton Field—both players from the bench and students sprinting from the bleachers. “Happy” didn’t begin to describe how they felt. It was their moment.
Seconds before, Alex Ventura caught the 2-point conversion pass from Scout Silva—a bold win-or-lose gambit in overtime—and Turlock extended its memorable season Friday night with a hard-to-believe 43-42 victory over Central Catholic.
The dramatic victory bore a distinct echo to Turlock’s ringing 51-50 upset of St. Mary’s two years ago. That stunning win, as well as Friday night’s, sent the Bulldogs to the same lofty place—the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals.
“Who had anything left?” Turlock coach James Peterson said. “Amazing game.”
Turlock, which won the overtime toss and elected to go on defense, found itself trailing 42-35 after Joey Alcutt’s fourth touchdown and Carlos Leon York’s conversion. On the Turlock sideline, Peterson already had charted his team’s course.
“He said, ‘We’re going to score and go for two and win this game,'” Turlock’s poised freshman quarterback Scout Silva heard from Peterson.
“Automatic. We knew,” Peterson said. “We’re on the road. We’re down. We’re going to get the win right now.”
Scout Silva darted nine yards for the touchdown, bringing everyone on Turlock’s packed stands to its feet. Then came the decisive try for the deuce.
The Bulldogs executed flawlessly to outflank the Central Catholic defense. Ventura, aligned in the backfield next to Scout Silva, wheeled to his right behind wide receiver Joseph Delte who ran a slant. Silva’s decision and release were spot-on, and no defender in CC blue could reach Ventura alone in the end zone.
It was the third straight successful two-pointer by Turlock. And No. 3 ended Central Catholic’s season in arguably one of the most painful losses it’s ever absorbed on home turf.
“You gotta give them credit. They beat us,” Raiders coach Roger Canepa said. “Should they have beaten us? I’m not so sure, but they did.”
The game, a bona fide section classic, featured monstrous momentum swings. Both teams stared defeat in the face—Central Catholic almost capsizing after an early 19-0 deficit, and Turlock after giving up 27 unanswered points and twice trailing by eight points in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs (9-3) drew even 27-27 on Scout’s 8-yard run and his play-action toss to Junior Silva (no relation). Central Catholic (7-4) responded with its best drive of the night, a punishing 75-yarder climaxed by Alcutt’s 10-yard rip off the right side. After Turlock encroached, the Raiders yanked their kicking team off the field and tacked on the conversion via Alcutt’s easy gallop to the right.
“I did think we had won the game,” said Central Catholic junior receiver Chase Perino (6 catches, 78 yards, TD pass from Kayden McHenry).
Turlock, down 35-27 with 1:11 to go, countered with Scout Silva’s right arm. He completed five passes to Junior Silva (7 receptions, 59 yards), Landon Fitzgerald and Ventura. The 23-yarder to Ventura, a one-handed snag in traffic near the Bulldogs sideline, put Turlock in business at the CC 9-yard line.
On the next snap, Scout Silva (14 of 19, 164 yards, 2 rushing TDs, 2 passing TDs), threw a 9-yard dart to Junior Silva, who dove over the goal line with only 13 seconds to go.
The all-important conversion mirrored Scout Silva’s successful try earlier in the period. On that one, he play-action rolled to his right and passed to Leo Contreras. This time, off the same action, he connected with Jeremiah Stine.
“They literally executed like it was on the drawing board,” Peterson said regarding the clutch conversions. “Did you see how patient Scout was on that play-action? He has been an amazing player for us.”
It also takes a supporting cast to win a Central California Athletic League title and stack eight straight victories. Ventura, a sophomore, emerged from a mid-season slump and enjoyed his best game. He started and ended it in style.
His untouched 66-yard dash through the CC defense put the Bulldogs in front barely a minute after the opening kickoff. His game-ending reception will be remembered in Turlock for years.
“He (Ventura) rededicated himself in the weight room and earned more reps on the field,” Peterson said. “I saw a new fire in him.”
Central Catholic (7-4) caught its breath this season after a stirring run of success. The Raiders’ loss to Manteca was its first conference setback in five years. It also guaranteed their first non-VOL title season since 2017.
Nevertheless, the Raiders inspired their fans with an elite-level rally against Turlock. CC somehow recovered after giving up the game’s first 19 points, and until then, was outgained 203-60.
Adjustments were installed on both sides of the ball. By the second half, Central Catholic overpowered Turlock, a team that prides itself on being the more physical side. Alcutt, after a costly fumble and only six yards on his first six rushes, finished with 161 yards to end a distinguished prep career.
‘I say thank you to my boys. We played strong,” said Alcutt, who couldn’t hide the tear on his cheek. “We’ll move past.”
Performances like Alcutt’s illustrate why Central Catholic is always a hard out in the postseason. Still, the loss stung.
“We lost the game and never punted the ball,” Canepa said in almost disbelief.
Turlock’s opponent in the semifinals is a familiar one. Oak Ridge, the No. 2 seed, advanced by beating Monterey Trail 45-20. For the third straight year, the Bulldogs will ride the bus to El Dorado Hills and hope for a different result.
For sheer shock value, the Bulldogs couldn’t top their 51-50 win over St. Mary’s in 2022. But against Central Catholic—in an epic first-ever football meeting between the two schools—they won in a way that won’t soon be forgotten.
Which is why Turlock stormed the field in joy.
Turlock 43, Central Catholic 42 (OT)
Turlock 13-6-0-16-8—43
Central Catholic 0-7-13-15-7—42
1st Quarter
T—Alex Ventura 66 run (kick failed)
T—Joseph Delte 10 run (Mateo Valencia kick)
2nd Quarter
T--Landon Fitzgerald 23 pass from Scout Silva (Valencia kick)
CC—Chase Perino 16 pass from Landon McHenry (Carlos Leon York kick)
3rd Quarter
CC—Wyatt Dragoo 1 run (York kick)
CC—Joey Alcutt 6 run (pass failed)
4th Quarter
CC—Alcutt 9 run (York kick)
T—Scout Silva 8 run (Leo Contreras pass from Silva)
CC—Alcutt 10 run (Alcutt run)
T—Junior Silva 9 pass from Scout Silva (Jeremiah Stine pass from Scout Silva)
Overtime
CC—Alcutt 14 run (York kick)
T—Scout Silva 9 run (Ventura pass from Scout Silva)
Records—Turlock 9-3, Central Catholic 7-4
