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Riverbank Gridders Lose To Hughson
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It was a season that started out with plenty of optimism, but after a 2-2 preseason campaign, the Riverbank Bruins found the going in the Trans-Valley League tough as usual, the team unable to find a way to get a victory on the books. Compounding the problem, the JV team was disbanded with a handful of games remaining, with injuries and ineligibility the primary factors.

For the Bruins, this past Friday night saw them take a 42-7 loss against Hughson to fall to 0-5 in league and they travel to nearby Escalon for the season finale on Nov. 9.

“They’re struggling,” agreed Escalon head coach Mark Loureiro, whose Cougars will look to get a win and solidify their entry into the postseason. Riverbank coach James Oliver knows his team will give their all, as they have in every contest, hoping to spoil Escalon’s party.

In action against Hughson, the Bruins fell behind 20-0 in the first quarter, then traded scores with the Huskies in the second quarter. Riverbank did not find the end zone again, while Hughson put up 15 points in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

Quarterback Freddie Capas had a solid night for the Bruins, scoring the touchdown on a 20-yard run, with Fabian Arana adding the extra point. Capas completed 7-of-18 pass attempts but also was picked off four times by the Huskies. He passed for 68 yards and also ran the ball himself nine times for 39 yards.

Leading rushers were Reilly Nabors, six carries for 37 yards and Austin Wey, nine carries for 27 yards, with both those players also pulling in passes. Nabors had two catches for 18 yards, Wey had three catches for 30 yards. Also getting in on the act was Angel Esquivel, two catches for 20 yards.

Defensive leaders were Arana, 14 total tackles including four solo, Eddie Guardado III with seven tackles, along with seven each from Joseph Orsburn and Esquivel. Luckie Cordova had an interception that he returned for 22 yards.

Since there is no JV team and no JV game on Friday night, the Bruins will travel to Escalon for a 7 p.m. contest, closing their season on the road against the Cougars.