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Turlock tops Gregori to set up CCAL winner take all Harvest Bowl
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Jake Dirkse (50) of Turlock High makes a stop during Friday’s 63-21 win over Gregori. Dirkse also had a sack in the game (EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal).

Turlock High varsity football remains perfect in league and are one step closer to winning the first ever Central California Athletic League title after they defeated Gregori High from home on Friday night’s senior night in a 63-21 final that saw the ‘Dogs outscore Gregori 35-0 in the final 26 minutes to secure the win.

“Gregori is a good team and we had to come out and play our game and I think we did that,” said Turlock’s Cam Sherwood.

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Turlock High’s Lucas Curtis (11) runs the ball during Friday’s 63-21 win over Gregori. Curtis had 11 carries for 87 yards and scored a touchdown—all in the first half of the game (EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal).

“We knew they would be a good team, but senior night hit home,” said Turlock’s Jonah Kosakiewicz.

Kosakiewicz and the offense did what they could, especially early on and Gregori had a tough time stopping them.

Turlock scored on their first possession after a seven-play drive ended with a Lucas Curtis six-yard run to make it 7-0 with 7:19 left in the first.

Turlock forced Gregori to punt then marched down for a 12-play scoring drive just before the first quarter ended after Anthony Frias scored from three yards out to make it 14-0 with 1:17 left in the first.

Another score was notched by Turlock before Gregori scored again on a three-play drive after Kosakiewicz ran it in from 55 yards out to extend the early lead to 21-0 with 10:49 left in the second.

Gregori put up a score to cut the lead to 21-7 with 8:04 left in the second and then they caught momentum after Curtis fumbled on a one-play drive following the score and they took advantage of it.

Gregori cut the lead to 21-14 with 6:45 left till half, but then Turlock went on a tear.

They ended up outscoring Gregori 42-7 for the remainder of the game.

Frias found the end zone from nine yards out with 4:08 left till half to make it 28-14, but then Gregori scored their final touchdown before halftime on a 96-yard kickoff return from Trey Longstreth to make it 28-21.

Kosakiewicz found Miguel Peña for a 38-yard touchdown pass just before halftime and the score read 35-21.


By the half, Turlock held Gregori to just 174 first half total yards.

Turlock gained 372 total yards on offense in the first half alone.

Curtis had 11 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown and Kosakiewicz went into the locker with seven carries and 132 yards. He was 3 of 5 in the air for 69 yards in the first half.

Once again, Kosakiewicz opened up the third quarter on fire as he scored the Bulldogs sixth touchdown from 26-yards out to make it 42-21 with 10:32 left in the third.

Following a three and out for Gregori, Kosakiewicz found Peña again for a 34-yard score to extend the lad to 49-21 with 9:26 left in the third.

Kyle Rumayor scored the next touchdown for Turlock from three yards out and Dalton Linn scored the ninth and final touchdown from 15-yards out to make it 63-21.

Turlock is 6-3 overall and 4-0 in the CCAL while Pitman remains perfect at 9-0 and 4-0 in league.

Turlock will take on 9-0 Pitman in Harvest Bowl 15 as Pitman owns the all-time series 8-6. The winner will win the first ever CCAL title. The game is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday.