Los Banos pounds Patterson

LOS BANOS -- Word to the wise: Don't plant your flag on the 50-yard line of Loftin Stadium in Los Banos.

The Los Banos High football team came out fired up and took control of their Western Athletic Conference game for a 24-8 victory after Patterson staked a giant red flag into the grass at midfield.

"That's just total disrespect, showing we don't deserve to be on the same field as them," LB linebacker Greg Williams said. "And that pumped us up even more, which showed."

Defense made the difference for both teams -- Patterson intercepted LB quarterback Chris Corpuz four times, but had no points to show for it until late in the fourth quarter.

LB also came up with four turnovers: a Williams strip, two Donatilo Romero-caused fumbles -- one of which Tramane Moore picked up and ran 60 yards for a touchdown -- and a 40-yard Williams interception that was returned for another score.

Williams and Los Banos coach Dennis Stubbs credited defensive coordinator Jon Betschart with figuring out Patterson's offense.

"It's tough. Our defense held them the whole game -- they couldn't score on us on defense," Patterson coach Nick Marchy said. "They got their points off field goals and turnovers. Any time you make that many mistakes, it's not good football."

On the ground, LB running back James Sams carried 26 times for 201 yards, but couldn't get the offense into the end zone.

"My brother's the principal (at Patterson), and I told him to tell them thanks for the extra, you know -- I mean we used it at halftime," said Stubbs, who welcomed a granddaughter in Chico Thursday night and returned to the team about an hour before the game. "We knew if we hung tough in the first half we had a great chance in the second half."

Both teams hung tough in the first half -- the score was 3-0 LB at the break on the strength of a 33-yard Derek Neves field goal. Neves added kicks of 35 and 42 yards as Patterson's defense -- led by Pio Vatuvei in his first game back from injury -- held LB at bay.