For the second consecutive game the Atwater High girls flag football team had to stop an extra-point conversion in the final seconds to preserve a victory. The Falcons defense was able to deliver again to hold off El Capitan 14-13 on Thursday night in a battle between two of the top Central California Conference teams.

 

The Gauchos and the Falcons came into the game tied atop the CCC standings with Merced so both teams knew the importance of the game. The defenses dominated throughout which created a much different game than the first matchup won by Atwater 39-34 on Sept. 23.  

 

“Teams are sending two (rushers) a lot now after Merced did it, and they're taking our deep passes away, because they know we like to throw deep,” said Atwater co-head coach Nathan Ramirez, whose team improved to 15-4 overall and 6-1 in the CCC. “They're causing Madi to panic at times. We told her to stay calm, hit the little swing routes, get the dump off passes, and everything will take care of itself. She was able to do that for the most part.”

 

Hiler gave the Falcons the lead with a 5-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter. Hiler ran in the extra-point conversion to make the score 7-0. The Gauchos (16-4, 4-3 CCC) answered back just before halftime as Aaliyah Simonian connected with receiver Mady Dietz on a 7-yard touchdown pass. The two connected again on the conversion to tie the game at 7-7.

 

It seemed whenever Hiler needed a big play she looked to senior Saige Harcksen and those two connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter. “It felt like the ball was in the air for like 20 seconds,” Harcksen. “All I was thinking was don't drop it, don't drop it. don't drop it. That's all that was going through my head, but me and Madi, we have a good connection, so it was good.” The Falcons were successful on the conversion to take a 14-7 lead.

 

The Gauchos defense came up with a big stop late in the fourth quarter to give their offense one final shot with just over a minute left. Simonian moved El Capitan down the field and connected with Avnoor Bains on a deep pass down the right sideline with just over 40 seconds left to set up the offense inside the Falcons’ 10-yard line. Simonian then connected with Tasha Dickey on an 8-yard touchdown pass to pull the Gauchos within 14-13 with 30 seconds remaining.

 

Two days after stopping Buhach Colony on a two-point conversion with no time left on the clock in a 20-18 win, the Falcons had to stop El Capitan from converting on the extra point. Simonian delivered a pass into the corner of the end zone on the conversion attempt, but the receiver couldn’t pull the pass in for the catch. “That stop was huge,” Ramirez said. “We told them we just have to keep them out of the end zone. Their girl bobbled it a bit. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky.”

 

“It was super intense,” Harcksen added. “Our defense, we were doing everything we could. Our offense just wasn't clicking this game, but our defense was so I'm glad we were on defense at the end.”

The Falcons’ win sets up another huge showdown at Merced High on Tuesday with sole possession of first place on the line. Merced defeated Atwater 27-6 in the first matchup on Sept. 25. The Bears are ranked No. 5 in the Sac-Joaquin Section by MaxPreps and Atwater is ranked No. 9.  

 

“We just have to go out and play our game,” Harcksen said. “We can't play (Merced’s game). I think last time, we definitely played their game and that's what kind of got us down. We just have to catch the balls, pull flags and do the little things to win.”

 

Merced 43, Golden Valley 0 – Antonia LeJarde threw for 300 yards and ran for another 55 to help lead the Bears past the Cougars. LeLarde threw four touchdowns to four different receivers with Averie Steverson, Amiya Brown, Aubrie Supinger and Ryann Perez all catching one. LeJarde also rushed for two scores and Perez and two touchdowns total.

 

Buhach Colony 30, Los Banos 7 – The Thunder defense came up with four interceptions as Julissa Duran came away with two take aways and Alyssa Silva and Emily Gallegos both intercepted a pass. Lesli Gutierrez threw three touchdowns and ran for another score for the Thunder (13-7 overall, 4-3 CCC). Gallegos caught two touchdowns and added a 65-yard touchdown run.

 

Girls Volleyball

Atwater 3, Merced 2 – Emma Rodriguez recorded 14 kills and Amara Rhodes added eight kills, 33 assists and four aces in a 25-18, 21-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-8 victory over the Bears. Caylor Gibson recorded five blocks and Genesis Velasquez finished with 22 digs for Atwater, which improved to 15-5 overall and 4-2 in the CCC.

 

Girls Golf

Atwater 259, Golden Valley 278 – Paisley Garcia fired a 43 and Kadence Stephens turned in a round of 50 to lead the Falcons to a victory. Heidi Ortega paced the Cougars with a 53.

 

Buhach Colony 251, Merced 285 – Amanda Englert posted a 42 and Ryen Cardoso carded a 49 to lead the Thunder to a victory. Maya Rodriguez turned in a low round for the Bears with a 52.

 

El Capitan 289, Los Banos 336 – Esther Sheu shot a 40 to lead the Gauchos to a win. Lucca Jorgenson added a 51 for El Capitan. 

 

Girls Tennis

Merced 7, Atwater 2 – The Bears were led by Vasudha Shyam, Anika Gopinathan, Kylah Ens-Villanueva, JJ Cosio and Sadie Del Real, who all recorded singles victories. 

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.