close
close

Rocklin uses strong second half to defeat Turlock in season opener

Rocklin uses strong second half to defeat Turlock in season opener
Posted on | Posted on Theodore

The Turlock High football team took a lot of positives from Friday night’s season opener against top Sacramento-area team Rocklin.

But the Thunder took the win.

Quarterback Reeve Slone threw two touchdown passes and Derek Keeley scored two touchdowns as the Thunder edged a spirited Turlock team 41-28 at Joe Debely Stadium.

It was a much closer game than most expected.

“They’re a competitive team, they’re well-coached and if you make a mistake, they have a chance to beat you,” said Rocklin coach Jason Adams. “It was similar to that tonight.”

Two years ago, Rocklin traveled south to Turlock and lost 14-7 to the Bulldogs. This time, Turlock led by 7 points at halftime.

But a 27-point second half, culminating in Keeley’s game-winning 13-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes left, sealed the victory for the reigning Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champions.

“These guys gave us a beating and … they should go into next week feeling good,” Adams said.

There were many good things to come out of the game for Turlock. The Bulldogs seemed to keep the Thunder at bay for most of the game, with Rocklin taking the lead for the first time late in the third quarter.

The biggest advantage for the Bulldogs may be that they have an up-and-coming star at quarterback.

Freshman Scout Silva started for Turlock and never seemed fazed by Rocklin’s tough defense, running the offense like a senior, not a kid who was still in junior high last year.

“I was a little nervous at the beginning, but then I got confident,” Scout said. “I had a lot of fun. I thought we should have finished with a win, but we just made a few mistakes. But we’re getting better.”

The 5’10”, 175-pound Silva passed for 235 yards and scored two touchdowns and ran for 56 yards and scored two touchdowns. He not only impressed his own coach, but also received some nice compliments from Rocklins Adams.

“I didn’t know he was a freshman, the coaches just told me that,” Adams said. “I told their coaches that he’s a damn good fighter. A damn good player.”

Peterson said Silva’s offseason work paid off.

“I thought he did a great job,” Peterson said. “He did a good job of extending the play, avoiding the sack and then throwing the ball down the field with his eyes.”

Turlock’s defense was strong in the first half against Rocklin’s powerful running game, but the Bulldogs were shocked by a big play when Slone hit Mavrik Collins for an 86-yard touchdown pass.

An 11-yard touchdown pass from Scout Silva to Junior Silva gave Turlock a 21-14 lead just seconds before the end of the first half.

Rocklin’s running game came into its own in the second half, and it helps to have a mammoth left tackle to lead the way. Garrison Blank is a 6-foot-4, 290-pound one-man wrecking crew and a freshman from UCLA.

In the third and fourth quarters, the Thunder’s offensive line took over and Rocklin scored touchdowns on all four possessions in the second half.

Rocklin struggles with penalties

Rocklin is the third-best team according to the Sacramento Bee, but the Thunder will have to play hard if they want to defend their sectional title.

Rocklin botched a punt, made some poor tackles on Turlock’s second touchdown, and Thunder players were called for eight personal fouls, several of which extended Turlock’s drives.

“When you win a championship and the kids are told how good they are, there’s just a hangover,” Adams said. “I thought we had a mature group, but we didn’t play that way tonight.”

Rocklin hosts the strong Nevada team Bishop Manogue next Friday evening.

Turlock will continue its tough preseason schedule next Friday in Tracy with the traditional “Battle for the Bone.”

“I like a tough preseason,” Peterson said. “We’re going to Tracy next week and it should be good.”

11-year-old Landyn Fitzgerald of Turlock tries to pass 5-year-old Derek Keeley of Rocklin during the first half of their game at Turlock High on August 23, 2024.11-year-old Landyn Fitzgerald of Turlock tries to pass 5-year-old Derek Keeley of Rocklin during the first half of their game at Turlock High on August 23, 2024.

11-year-old Landyn Fitzgerald of Turlock tries to pass 5-year-old Derek Keeley of Rocklin during the first half of their game at Turlock High on August 23, 2024.

Scout Silva, 7, of Turlock is chased by Chase Baker, 9, of Rocklin during the first half of their game at Turlock High on August 23, 2024.Scout Silva, 7, of Turlock is chased by Chase Baker, 9, of Rocklin during the first half of their game at Turlock High on August 23, 2024.

Scout Silva, 7, of Turlock is chased by Chase Baker, 9, of Rocklin during the first half of their game at Turlock High on August 23, 2024.

Landyn Fitzgerald, 11, of Turlock works his way up the field as Mavrik Collins, 0, of Rocklin chases him during the first half of their game at Turlock High on August 23, 2024.Landyn Fitzgerald, 11, of Turlock works his way up the field as Mavrik Collins, 0, of Rocklin chases him during the first half of their game at Turlock High on August 23, 2024.

Landyn Fitzgerald, 11, of Turlock works his way up the field as Mavrik Collins, 0, of Rocklin chases him during the first half of their game at Turlock High on August 23, 2024.

Scout Silva, 7, of Turlock High looks for an open man as Rocklin's Chase Baker approaches during the first half of their game at Turlock High on Aug. 23, 2024.Scout Silva, 7, of Turlock High looks for an open man as Rocklin's Chase Baker approaches during the first half of their game at Turlock High on Aug. 23, 2024.

Scout Silva, 7, of Turlock High looks for an open man as Rocklin’s Chase Baker approaches during the first half of their game at Turlock High on Aug. 23, 2024.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *