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Yosemite Youth Junior Badgers win opener 38-0

-- Submitted by Yosemite Youth Football

(Updated: Thursday, September 02, 2010, 12:00 AM)

The Yosemite Youth Junior Badger football team started on the right foot by defeating Tranquility 38-0 last Saturday at Badger Stadium.

Nolan LeForge took over as starting quarterback for the game as Jeremy Miller is out for at least three weeks with pulled tendons in his left elbow.

On first down to begin the game, LeForge hit wide receiver Chase Maurer for a 35-yard touchdown, but the score was called back on an illegal block penalty.

After a couple of runs for no gain, LeForge then hit Brian Woolsey on a swing pass for a gain of 19 yards. Two plays later, LeForge was intercepted and the Aggies took over.

Tranquility managed 10 plays and were on the move before Badger defense back Maurer intercepted a pass. On first and 10 from their own 38, LeForge handed off to Jayson Lee, who scrambled 62 yards down the right side for the Badgers first touchdown of the season.

Christian Conti's PAT kick was good, and with 6:10 left in the second quarter, Yosemite was up 8-0.

On Tranquility's first play from scrimmage, Lee, now playing defensive end, stripped the ball and defensive back Maurer recovered the fumble, putting the Badgers offensive back on the field.

On third down from the Tranquility 33, running back Woolsey took a reverse 27 yards to the 8 yard line and an illegal horse collar tackle penalty moved the ball half the distance.

On the next play, Lee took the ball off tackle from the four and scored his second touchdown of the game. Conti's PAT was low, and with 4:43 left in the half, the Badgers were up 14-0.

A third down sack by Josh Hansen-Sedor and Luke Tovar put Tranquility at fourth and 16, and the Aggies turned the ball over on downs the next play.

On the next drive, Lee and Woolsey both caught LeForge swing passes for a combined gain of 24 yards. Lee took another pass and as hard run to the four. LeForge then hit Luke Tovar, who had to leap for the reception, in the end zone for Yosemite's third TD. At the end of the half, even with two touchdowns called back and 85 yards in penalties, the Badgers were up 20-0.

After a deep opening kick off by Tovar, Tranquility was unable to move the ball on its first series of the second half, and on fourth and 19, Maurer again intercepted for the turnover on Tranquility's' 10 yard line. LeForge wasted no time and hit Tovar over the middle for a touchdown, giving the home team a 26-0 lead.

After the kick-off, Tranquility ran a pitch to the right but defensive end Lee knocked the pitch to the turf and defensive back Wyatt McKee was there to recover the fumble.

Up 26 points, the Badger coaches sent in back up quarterback Tristan Eames. Eames competently took the helm and after an incomplete pass, ran the ball 35 yards on a keeper up the middle to the one. He kept it again on the next play and scored the Badgers fifth TD of the day. With 3:53 remaining in the third quarter, it was Badgers 32, Tranquility 0.

On first down, Tranquility attempted a razzle-dazzle play but Lee threw the play for an 11-yard loss. It was Lee again on fourth and 14 who again sacked the quarterback for the turnover on downs.

On first and 10, from the Badger 40, Eames handed off to running back Tovar who broke off tackle and outran Tranquility's entire defense for a 60-yard touchdown run, giving the Badgers a 38-0 lead.

On the last play of the game, Tranquility's tailback broke up the middle and seemed on his way to a score, but lineman Brendan Gillaspy caught the runner from behind to end the game.

The Junior Badgers are coached by offensive coordinator Alan Shackelford, line coaches Pete Mascola and Clyde Derickson, and head coach Mike Hanson-Sedor. Yosemite High School senior Chris Pelzl assists.

In the Mighty Mites Division, Yosemite lost 24-18. The Yosemite Pee Wee team won 31-0, and the Senior was handed a 63-8 thumping by Tranquillity.

Next week the Yosemite teams take on Huron at home.