Written by: Nick Stuart
The Sonora Wildcats closed out the regular season with a 42-21 victory over the Ripon Christian Knights. Sonora returned to the town of Ripon once again, only this time to face Ripon Christian in a game that gave the Wildcats the win and an impressive 8-2 record for the year.
The Wildcats received the ball to start the game and were able to score after only a couple of plays when #7 Cash Byington broke loose and scored on a 51-yard run for a touchdown. The Knights turned the ball over on downs, and this time it was #29 Tommy Sutton breaking through the secondary and finding the endzone on a 32-yard run. The Wildcats ended the first quarter leading 14-0. After another turnover on downs, the Wildcats furthered their lead with another TD from #7 Byington before the Knights’ offense started to show signs of life. Ripon Christian began to successfully pass the ball and scored, then after a Wildcats fumble they passed and scored again, lowering the Wildcats lead to 21-14. A rare missed field goal from 47 yards for #8 Garibay ended the first half.
Both teams returned to the field after halftime due to rapidly changing weather conditions, a steady rain affecting both teams and greatly limiting the ability to successfully pass the ball. Incomplete passes forced Ripon Christian to punt the ball, and a long series of plays saw #2 Brody Speer run in for the touchdown, bringing the Sonora lead to 28-14. More incomplete passes and another punt gave the Wildcats the ball, and their run continued this time with quarterback #5 Eli Ingalls getting the touchdown, and the lead continued to grow to 34-14 as the fourth quarter began. The Ripon Christian passing game found the end zone at the start of the fourth quarter, but Sonora answered the score in kind during a two-play series and pass that gave #7 Cash Byington the final TD of the evening, along with a sixth successful PAT from #8 Emanuel Garibay that brought the final score to 42-21 in favor of the Sonora Wildcats.
The Chicken Ranch Casino player of the game was #3 Tanner Navarro, who played a great game at cornerback. Stay tuned to mymotherlode.com.
The Sonora Wildcats games air live on KVML 1450AM/102.7 FM, with Nick Stuart and Zeb Drivdahl. The Summerville Bears can be heard on 93.5 KKBN with Mike Woicicki and Mike Rodgers as your hosts for all the action.
For the Live Streaming Broadcast, and information about the season view the High School Sports Page here.