RIPON – The Escalon High Cougars have not enjoyed many high-fives or celebrations, or at least as many to which they’re accustomed, in 2024.
So when senior iron man Ryan Lewis did a little dance after he knocked down a pass in the closing moments of Escalon’s 23-14 Trans-Valley League victory over Ripon on Friday night, it was finally time for smiles for the Cougars. They’ve probably qualified for the postseason, their much-decorated comfort zone.
“Two years ago, we were in a similar situation, where we needed to win at Ripon,” Lewis said. “We beat Ripon, won the rest of our game sand won state. I hope we do the same thing this year.”
Escalon (4-5, 3-2) topped its ancient rival by pitching a shutout on defense after halftime. The Cougars, trailing 14-7 at the break, allowed only two first downs and 46 yards the final two quarters.
Lewis, a mobile and durable two-way lineman, made his 53rd straight start for the Cougars. That means he’s started every varsity game from Game 1 as a freshman to now. Predictably, he anchored that second-half dominance.
Ripon (3-6, 1-4) trailed 17-14 but was at the Escalon 42-yard line after a short punt midway through the fourth quarter. But the chance evaporated on the next snap when Lewis forced a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Daniel Marrufo.
Escalon shook off its own lost fumble at the Ripon 12 but eventually iced it with a 1-yard sneak by quarterback Logan Huebner with 1:18 left. The game was a grind for the Cougars. They didn’t take their first lead until Ricardo Felix Chavez’s 32-yard field goal early in the final quarter.
The Cougars needed a wakeup call at halftime and got one from coach Andrew Beam. Ripon ripped down the field for touchdowns on its first two possessions, ended by touchdown passes of 40 and 15 yards from J.J. Brawley to Logan Lefebvre.
“It was dead silent at halftime,” Lewis said. “Our head coach went in there and yelled at us a lot.”
The basic message from coach Andrew Beam: Play better.
“We were missing assignments on both sides of the ball,” he said. “The defense came forward. We were a little timid up front for some reason…Still not a complete game, but I think we got better.”
Lewis and his friends along the line, plus linebackers Marrufo and Alex Jones, keyed Escalon’s takeover on defense.
For Ripon, it was an opportunity missed. Not unlike the Cougars, Ripon has labored this season. Head coach Chris Musseman, who guided Ripon to a state title in 2019, resigned earlier this month – reportedly due to parental pressure – only a few days before the Indians’ loss to Ripon Christian.
Ripon shocked the valley last week with its 27-15 win over Sonora, no doubt the upset of the season to date. But after a promising first half against Escalon, the Indians couldn’t re-ignite.
Levebvre, Brawley’s favorite target, caught six passes for 91 yards and accounted for a large chunk of Ripon’s 240 net yards. Escalon totaled 277.
“Too many penalties, too many mistakes,” assessed interim head coach Cole Williams, Ripon’s defensive coordinator before the change. “Something we’ve been battling all year.”
Indeed, two Ripon personal fouls helped Escalon on its game-tying 70-yard march to start the second half. Carson Medina pounded home 5 yards and the Cougars drew even 14-14.
Medina (17 carries, 75 yards) replaced freshman fullback Dylan Ball, who was injured two weeks ago. Beam said Ball, Escalon’s most explosive player, might be ready for the playoffs. Senior Sam Jimenez, a major playmaker, was lost for the season before the opening game (knee injury).
The return of the run-minded Huebner has given the Cougars a lift. He incurred a knee injury during the loss to Sonora and missed several games. His 19-yard pass to Chase Cummings put the Cougars on the scoreboard in the first first quarter.
Escalon, the defending TVL champion, has won CIF state championships the last two years and hung Sac-Joaquin Section title banners the last four. Simply, they’re not used to owning only four wins with one to go.
Everyone knows that, even through a season-long wave of injuries, they won’t be an easy out in Division IV. Beam thinks a win next week on Senior Night against Orestimba could bring the Cougars a first-round home game. Conversely, Ripon faces a must-win at Hilmar to advance in Division VI.
“We’ve never encountered this many injuries and setbacks,” Beam said. “But other than Woodland Christian two weeks ago, we’ve been in every game."
Fortunately for the Cougars, they’ve trotted out a constant rock in Lewis.
“The adversity was something we weren’t used to,” he said. “It wasn’t working for a while, but we’ve finally found our groove.”
Escalon 23, Ripon 14
Escalon 7-0-7-9—23
Ripon 7-7-0-0—14
1st Quarter
R—Logan Lefebvre 40 pass from J.J. Brawley (Ricky Langenfeld kick)
E—Chase Cummings 19 pass from Logan Huebner (Ricardo Felix Chavez kick)
2nd Quarter
R—Lefebvre 15 pass from Brawley (Langenfeld kick)
3rd Quarter
E—Carson Medina 5 run (Chavez kick)
4th Quarter
E—FG Chavez 32
E—Huebner 1 run (kick blocked)
Records—Escalon 3-2 TVL, 4-5 overall; Ripon 1-4 TVL, 3-6 overall
JV—Ripon 14-7
