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Grizzlies snap Turlock’s winning streak
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Turlock’s Anthony Frias (21) runs the ball during Friday’s 41-13 loss to Central High. Frias had 60 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown in the first half (EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal).

Turlock High football head coach James Peterson said his team came in ready to play on Friday night when they hosted No. 16 Central High from Fresno in their final pre-league game, but unfortunately a combination of things led to their 41-13 fall despite getting seven sacks on defense.

“We were definitely prepared going into this game,” said Peterson. “When you play Division-I college football and you are out there for the first time, you realize everybody on the field is just as good as you… and that is kind of what our guys went through tonight. There were no downs off, no breaks, if you make a mistake and get beat, it was costly so that is what happened tonight.”

The mistakes were evident right away when Turlock had possession to start the game.

Their first play was no yards, which was followed by three false starts in three of the next four plays which then led to the first of five punts in the first half.

Central capitalized by scoring on their first drive after running three plays, ending with a Jameson Silva 57-yard touchdown pass to Manuel Oliver-Davis to make it 6-0 with 9:23 left in the first.


Turlock punted again, then forced Central to punt on their next possession.

Things looked interesting for a little when Turlock rallied with a nine-play scoring drive that ended with an Anthony Frias one-yard run up the middle, which made it 7-6 with 2:12 in the first.

It was the only time Turlock led in the game.

Central responded right away with a seven-play scoring drive that ended with Silva’s second touchdown pass, but this time to Xavier Worthy who scored from 11-yards out, making it 13-7 with 25 seconds left in the first.

Turlock punted two more times and Central punted again before the Grizzlies added to their lead when Silva found Worthy yet again from 21-yards out to make it 20-7 with just over seven minutes left till halftime.

Central then held Turlock to a punt yet again and then scored on a four-play drive that once again ended with a Silva touchdown pass after he found Quali Conley from 10-yards out to make it 27-7 at the half.

By halftime, Silva had four touchdown passes, but had been sacked five times by the Turlock interior lineman who did a great job despite being out on the field for most of the game.

Central’s defense continued to hold Turlock, and even forced a fumble and interception before the game ended.

Silva tossed his fifth and final touchdown of the game when he found Worthy again for his third when he heaved it from 36 yards out to make it 34-7 with 2:40 left in the third quarter.

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The Turlock defense swarms the ball against the Central running game during Friday’s 41-13 loss from Joe Debely Stadium (EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal).

Backup quarterback Dexter Frampton tossed the final touchdown from 51 yards out which made it 41-7 with 11:28 left in the game.

Turlock’s Brock Paslay tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Miguel Peña with just over six minutes left in the game to make it 41-13.

“We fought hard. I thought the kids played outstanding and I thought our kids fought hard, they battled with these guys for a little while and then it got away from us,” said Peterson. “Nobody quit so that was important.”

Following the loss, Turlock snaps a two-game winning streak, while they also go 3-2 for the year prior to the start of league.

Turlock will next have a bye week before they kick off league play in the Central California Athletic League on the road at Downey High at 7 p.m. Oct. 4.

“Absolutely it was a tough preseason schedule, we cannot wait until league comes around, it is going to be awesome,” Peterson added.