The Ceres High frosh football team kept its unbeaten streak alive in league with a come-from-behind victory on Thursday.
Zack Atchison threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Tony Marquez on fourth down with 1 minute, 55 seconds remaining and scored from 2 yards out on a two-point conversion run to give the Bulldogs a 15-14 win over Johansen at Downey High School.
"We didn't give up," said Ceres coach Josh Leslie.
The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 in the Modesto Metro Conference, 6-2 overall. The Vikings fell to 1-2 in the league standings.
Ceres extended its unbeaten streak to five games.
Ceres' final score came in the fourth quarter thanks in part to a Johansen turnover. Down 14-7, Joaquin Casas recovered a fumble at the Johansen 25 with 3:52 remaining.
Four plays later, Atchison hooked up with Marquez on the 30-yard pass play on fourth-and-14. Marquez snatched the ball out of the air after beating two defenders and raced into the end zone untouched.
Ceres opted to go for the two-point conversion after Johansen was called for offsides before attempting the point-after kick.
Ceres' offensive line drove Johansen's defensive line back, and Atchison scored with ease.
Marquez's interception, his third in two games, sealed the win.
He picked off Gabe Torres' pass on third-and-two at the Ceres 45 and returned it to the Johansen 25 with 16 seconds left in regulation.
Atchison took a knee and celebrated with his teammates at midfield.
Ceres led 7-6 at the break as both teams scored in the second quarter.
Ceres' Rigo Guerra spun past two defenders and scored on a 45-yard run. Rafael Torres' point-after kick put the Bulldogs ahead 7-0.
The Vikings responded 14 seconds later. Chris Wattle returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a score.
The Bulldogs blocked the PAT.
Johansen scored on its first possession in the second half.
Josh Graham's 28-yard run around the left end and a two-point conversion run gave the Vikings a 14-7 lead with 5:01 remaining in the third quarter.
Ceres' offense gained just 112 yards in the game.
Atchison completed 4 of 11 passes for 48 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
The Bulldogs ran for 64 yards on 19 carries.
Marquez rushed for 20 yards on six carries.
Ceres' defense was stellar.
The Bulldogs limited the Vikings to just 136 yards of total offense.
Johansen had 110 yards rushing on 32 carries and 26 yards passing on one completion with one interception. - By DALE BUTLER / Reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Zack Atchison threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Tony Marquez on fourth down with 1 minute, 55 seconds remaining and scored from 2 yards out on a two-point conversion run to give the Bulldogs a 15-14 win over Johansen at Downey High School.
"We didn't give up," said Ceres coach Josh Leslie.
The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 in the Modesto Metro Conference, 6-2 overall. The Vikings fell to 1-2 in the league standings.
Ceres extended its unbeaten streak to five games.
Ceres' final score came in the fourth quarter thanks in part to a Johansen turnover. Down 14-7, Joaquin Casas recovered a fumble at the Johansen 25 with 3:52 remaining.
Four plays later, Atchison hooked up with Marquez on the 30-yard pass play on fourth-and-14. Marquez snatched the ball out of the air after beating two defenders and raced into the end zone untouched.
Ceres opted to go for the two-point conversion after Johansen was called for offsides before attempting the point-after kick.
Ceres' offensive line drove Johansen's defensive line back, and Atchison scored with ease.
Marquez's interception, his third in two games, sealed the win.
He picked off Gabe Torres' pass on third-and-two at the Ceres 45 and returned it to the Johansen 25 with 16 seconds left in regulation.
Atchison took a knee and celebrated with his teammates at midfield.
Ceres led 7-6 at the break as both teams scored in the second quarter.
Ceres' Rigo Guerra spun past two defenders and scored on a 45-yard run. Rafael Torres' point-after kick put the Bulldogs ahead 7-0.
The Vikings responded 14 seconds later. Chris Wattle returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a score.
The Bulldogs blocked the PAT.
Johansen scored on its first possession in the second half.
Josh Graham's 28-yard run around the left end and a two-point conversion run gave the Vikings a 14-7 lead with 5:01 remaining in the third quarter.
Ceres' offense gained just 112 yards in the game.
Atchison completed 4 of 11 passes for 48 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
The Bulldogs ran for 64 yards on 19 carries.
Marquez rushed for 20 yards on six carries.
Ceres' defense was stellar.
The Bulldogs limited the Vikings to just 136 yards of total offense.
Johansen had 110 yards rushing on 32 carries and 26 yards passing on one completion with one interception. - By DALE BUTLER / Reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier
