Riverbank High's football team bullied host Ripon Christian by taking a 21-7 lead at the half, but 21 unanswered points in the final quarter of play presented the Bruins with their third consecutive loss of the season.
Riverbank led early after a five-yard scamper to pay dirt by Christian Vega and a quick extra point by Jose Moreno with 5:27 to play in the opening quarter.
Shane Gaynor scored from four yards out to spread the lead, but Ripon Christian responded with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Voogd to Isaac Norman.
Moreno returned an interception 65 yards and punched in his own extra point to take the 14-point lead at the break, but the Bruins would not score again.
The Knights scored on an 18-yard halfback pass from Norman to David Kramer to open the final quarter, and saw a pair of five-yard touchdown runs from Norman and Josiah Neeley.
Neeley's touchdown with just 1:16 to play didn't give the Bruins enough time to drive the field and score to take the lead.
"They converted on third down, and as a defensive football team you need to get off the field on third down," Riverbank coach Aaron Thurman said. "After RC scored the guys ran over and told me that we needed to drive down the field and score, which was a success in my book.
"They were not willing to admit defeat, but we ran out of time. We were not done playing football but the game was over."
Riverbank (2-5 overall) is 0-2 in Trans Valley League play. Things won't get any easier this week when the team plays host to perennial Sac-Joaquin Section power, Escalon, on Friday.
The Cougars have shut out each of their last three opponents by a 143-0 margin and blanked RC 63-0 two weeks ago. The team was a 37-0 winner over Hughson last week.
Steven Silva (897 yards rushing), Jason Diniz (514) and Josh Miguel (504) lead Cougar rushers while quarterback Spencer Franceschetti has completed 23 of 46 passes for 467 yards and six scores. Nick Largent (57 tackles, two interceptions) leads the Cougar defense.
"(Escalon) is a good opponent," Thurman said. "We have to capitalize on their mistakes and not make too many of our own."
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Riverbank led early after a five-yard scamper to pay dirt by Christian Vega and a quick extra point by Jose Moreno with 5:27 to play in the opening quarter.
Shane Gaynor scored from four yards out to spread the lead, but Ripon Christian responded with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Voogd to Isaac Norman.
Moreno returned an interception 65 yards and punched in his own extra point to take the 14-point lead at the break, but the Bruins would not score again.
The Knights scored on an 18-yard halfback pass from Norman to David Kramer to open the final quarter, and saw a pair of five-yard touchdown runs from Norman and Josiah Neeley.
Neeley's touchdown with just 1:16 to play didn't give the Bruins enough time to drive the field and score to take the lead.
"They converted on third down, and as a defensive football team you need to get off the field on third down," Riverbank coach Aaron Thurman said. "After RC scored the guys ran over and told me that we needed to drive down the field and score, which was a success in my book.
"They were not willing to admit defeat, but we ran out of time. We were not done playing football but the game was over."
Riverbank (2-5 overall) is 0-2 in Trans Valley League play. Things won't get any easier this week when the team plays host to perennial Sac-Joaquin Section power, Escalon, on Friday.
The Cougars have shut out each of their last three opponents by a 143-0 margin and blanked RC 63-0 two weeks ago. The team was a 37-0 winner over Hughson last week.
Steven Silva (897 yards rushing), Jason Diniz (514) and Josh Miguel (504) lead Cougar rushers while quarterback Spencer Franceschetti has completed 23 of 46 passes for 467 yards and six scores. Nick Largent (57 tackles, two interceptions) leads the Cougar defense.
"(Escalon) is a good opponent," Thurman said. "We have to capitalize on their mistakes and not make too many of our own."
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
