Roundup: Los Banos overtime gamble pays off as Tigers defeat Ceres in key WAC showdown
Los Banos High football coach Dustin Caropreso isn’t afraid to gamble.
He proved it once again on Friday night, opting to go for two points and the win in overtime and Caropreso’s gamble paid off as quarterback David Herrera scored on a rushing play to send the Tigers home with a 29-28 thrilling victory over Ceres at Loftin Stadium on Friday night.
The win improves Los Banos’ record to 6-2 overall and keeps the Tigers all alone atop the Western Athletic Conference standings at 5-0.
“Every coach and every player wanted to go for two,” Caropreso said. “I almost talked myself out of it.”
Caropreso said ever since losing to Escalon in four overtimes in his first year as Los Banos head coach in 2012, if he has a chance to go for the win in overtime he’s going for it.
So when the Tigers won the toss and got the ball second in overtime, Caropreso’s decision to go for two was already made.
“Every since that Escalon game from here on out, I told myself if we ever get the ball second in overtime I’m going to go for two,” Caropreso said. “Let me put the game on my shoulders.”
Ceres (6-2, 3-2 WAC) battled back late to send the game into overtime as Tarrell Lee-Gill scored on an 8-yard touchdown run with 1:35 left in the game. Lee-Gill scored the two-point conversion to tie the game at 21-21.
“It’s hard to regroup and our defense was dog tired,” Caropreso said. “We left them on the field too long tonight. The one thing I liked was we had a chance to win the game. We tried a 47-yard field goal at the end of regulation. We didn’t get it but we did some good things.”
Lee-Gill scored on Ceres’ opening possession of overtime to give the Bulldogs a 28-21 lead.
Herrera answered for the Tigers and then scampered into the end zone on the two-point conversion to give Los Banos the win.
Herrera threw for 153 yards and a touchdown to go along with 83 yards rushing and two scores. Tigers running back Mark Carreiro rushed for 175 yards, including a 98-yard touchdown.
The Tigers defense was led by defensive lineman Jett Lindeman, who finished with 22 tackles and one sack.
Merced 49, Buhach Colony 13 — Bears sophomore Adarias Morales-Saetern rushed for two touchdowns and sophomore quarterback Quintell Dupree threw a touchdown and ran another score in as Merced cruised to a victory over the Thunder.
Senior Carter Haugen also threw two touchdowns passes to Jordan Dupree and Jeremiah Folau before exiting with a collar bone injury.
Merced (4-4 overall, 3-1 Central California Conference) will host Central Valley next week. Buhach Colony 4-4, 2-2) will travel to Patterson.
Atwater 23, Central Valley 20 — The Falcons failed to score in the second half but the defense held on, forcing a turnover late.
Erik Melgoza had three interceptions for the Falcons. Dhenym Jackson, Grayson Soto and Josue Garcia-Chavez all scored touchdowns for Atwater.
Atwater improved to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the CCC. The Falcons have a bye next week.
Le Grand 42, Gustine 14 — Alexis Granados rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Southern League.
Nathan Garcia scored two touchdowns for Le Grand, one on a fumble recovery and the other on a 37-yard scoring strike from Julian Bucio.
Reyes Diaz had seven catches for 89 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown pass from Bucio.
Dos Palos 36, Tranquillity 0 — Elias Malfabon returned an interception for a touchdown and a punt for a score as the Broncos won their fourth consecutive game
Peyton Van Worth and Drake Hennagan added first-quarter touchdown runs for Dos Palos, which opened up a 22-0 lead after one quarter.
The Broncos improved to 4-4 overall and 3-0 in the West Sierra League.
Other Merced-area scores:
Ripon Christian 49, Mariposa 0
Pacheco 21, Mountain House 13
Modesto Christian 30, Livingston 6
