MODESTO — For the second straight week, the Turlock High football program descended on Don Lanphear Stadium in Modesto for the continuation of Central California Athletic League competition. And for the second Friday night in a row, the Bulldogs dominated, cruising to a 43-0 victory over Gregori High.
The Bulldogs improved to 3-4 on the season and to 2-0 against conference opponents.
On a more personal note for head coach James Peterson, who has been at the helm for 17 years, he nabbed his 106th career win, matching Les Ratzlaff for second-most wins in school history.
The secret to Turlock’s success very well may have been health, as most of their regular starters were in action — with the exception of the likes of Jeremy Garcia and Alex Ventura — and contributed to much of the scoring.
Quarterback Scout Silva, who has battled through a tough preseason with a handful of injuries and missed their contest two weeks ago against Clovis West, tossed three touchdowns to three different receivers, completing 12 of 21 attempts for 279 while scrambling for another 34 yards. And each of the scores were for major yardage.
The first was a 41 strike to Landyn Fitzgerald in the Bulldogs’ opening drive. Fitzgerald caught the ball about 20 yards downfield and raced down the sideline for the early 7-0 lead. After an uneventful final six minutes of the first quarter, the Bulldogs made it 15-0 when Silva dropped a pass into the hands of Donovan Muibrook for a 44-yard score. Just before the half, Braiden Fuentes came out of the backfield to catch a pass and run most of the 62 yards to the house.
Silva continued moving the offense downfield until midway through the fourth quarter, when he was hit as he threw and left the game nursing a shoulder injury.
“I think we just played him one rep too many,” Peterson said. “I was thinking about pulling him out right before that play, and I said, ‘I'm gonna give him like two more, and then we'll probably sub him.’ We missed a block, he took a hit, but he's a tough kid. He's gonna keep working and do what he's got to do to rehab and come back better. He's done that with every injury he's had. He's a fighter, and that's what I like about him. He's tough. He’s got grit.”
Kaleb Guinn was the primary ballcarrier for the Bulldogs, tabbing 74 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. His first score came midway through the third quarter from two yards out. His second was from nine yards out midway through the fourth, breaking multiple tackles on his way to the end zone.
“It's fun to have depth, right?” Peterson said. “And everybody's getting better and playing at a high level and working and helping each other out and just being complementary, right? Kaleb has been getting the reps when Alex has been out, and he isn’t stopping.”
A running clock was put in effect when Donnell Harmon III, another had a 35-yard pick-6 to push the score to 36-0 late in the third quarter.
Guinn’s second rushing touchdown was the final capped off the scoring.
Defensively, the Bulldogs had 11 tackles for losses, as well as sacks from Michael Cardoso and Raymond Anaya.
The Bulldogs will be back at Joe Debeley Stadium next week for a meeting with a familiar foe — Pitman High — in the 22nd edition of the Harvest Bowl. Turlock will serve as the home team as they try to make it 12 straight against the Pride.
