Every game has various scenarios that can be considered turning points. On the surface, the No. 2 seeded American Canyon High football team was clearly the superior team in a 39-8 win over the No. 7 seeded Yuba City Honkers in Friday’s CIF Sac Joaquin Section Div. III playoff win.
The numbers would strongly suggest as much as the Wolves outgained Yuba City in total yardage 577-264. There were three plays in the game that while they did not change the outcome, they changed the complexion. To be fair, at this stage of the season every play is magnified:
Scenario No. 1: American Canyon leads 6-0 late in the first quarter and is forced to punt on its own 6 yard-line. Yuba City is set to get advantageous field position but gets called for roughing the kicker. Wolves get new life and march down the field with quarterback Darren Antes completing the drive with a 25-yard scoring run. The roughing the kicker call was legitimate as Wolves punter Lavar Seay was mauled. However, Yuba City goes from potentially taking the lead to trailing 13-0.
Scenario No. 2: Trailing 13-0, Yuba City takes advantage of an Antes fumbled snap and converts it into a touchdown with Brice Rogers scoring from 1-yard away followed by a Brenndon Shalowitz’s two-point conversion, making it 13-8. Suddenly, Uncle Mo was wearing a Yuba City jersey.
On the ensuing drive, Antes lofted a pass that appeared to be intercepted by Yuba City cornerback Keith Halsey. However, American Canyon wide receiver Gamon Howard ripped the ball out of his hands like a thief in the night. The two players went to the ground and continued to wrestle for the ball but since it was joint possession, the tie goes to the offense. American Canyon retained possession and later scored with Andrew Rapacon hammering across the goal-line from 2-yards out, making it 20-8 Wolves.
Scenario No. 3: Midway through the third quarter, Wolves lead 26-8 with the ball at their own 15 after forcing a punt. Antes fakes the ball on a dive play to Rapacon, runs to his right with Kama Aalona following him as the pitch man. Antes was getting tackled and on his way to the ground as he pitched the ball at the last possible instant. Aalona fielded the pitch and raced 85-yards to paydirt.
Antes pitching at the last possible second was like several throws NFL Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre made. Your first thought is, “What are you thinking!” The next thought is, “Great play!”
“The boys were saying, that’s (John) Madden stuff,” Wolves head coach Larry Singer quipped. “I don’t play video games so I have no idea what they are talking about but they are dynamic playmakers.”
Wolves showing an “all in” mentality
With the win, American Canyon advances to the semifinals of the SJS Div. III playoffs for the second time in the school’s six-year history. Offensively, this team has a pick your poison mentality whether it’s Rapacon, Aalona, Anthony Gobert, Antes, Gamon Howard or Lavar Seay. There is also only one football.
“It’s a testament to (American Canyon assistant) coach Chris Yepson and what he’s been able to accomplish with our offense,” Singer said. “We have so many playmakers. Everybody is trying to do what’s best for the team. Nobody is out here saying, I need more touches.”
“As coaches, it’s hard when you get into this part of the season and the boys are not into it, it is hard,” singer said. “Now, it’s easy. It’s great watching a ton of film and putting things together because we know these guys are going to come out to play. We just told them their schedule for next week. They’re like, OK. We’re ready to go.”
Wolves honor Wallace
Before the contest, Dennis Wallace was honored in a moment of silence. Wallace, who was a Stanislaus County deputy sheriff, was killed in the line of duty on Sunday in Hughson, CA, about 10 miles from Modesto, CA. Wallace also served as a youth soccer coach and refereed high school football games in the SJS. He also served as a liason between schools and law enforcement.
Sideline slants
- American Canyon is now 11-1, tying the school record for wins in a single season, set in 2012.
- Since starting 1-5 under Singer in the first six games in 2015, the Wolves have gone 15-2 since that stretch.
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