BY ADAM WAYBRIGHT
Shafter High School came into Friday night with “three-peat” bragging rights and a South Sequoia League title on the line.
Shafter secured both in their 28-21 victory against their rivals, the Wasco Tigers.
The Wasco Tigers bolted out of the cage with firepower to begin the game with touchdowns on back-to-back drives to lead the Shafter Generals 14-7 with 10:11 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
However, Senior QB Jackson Sanchez and the Generals would assemble to do damage on both sides of the ball.
Shafter bullied the Tigers defense with a series of runs, driving their offense into the red zone with 6:26 to play in the first half.
On 1st and Goal from the 3-yard line, Jackson Sanchez faked a handoff to run directly through the A-gap and tie the game for the Generals at 14-14.
https://twitter.com/WaybrightAdam/status/1190466681023238144?s=20
Disaster would strike for the Tigers on their ensuing drive.
On a 4th and 10, Shafter’s Colby Miller jarred the ball loose to force the turnover and leave their offense at the Wasco 45-yard line.
“They came to play,” Shafter’s assistant coach Lucas Lucero said. “I couldn’t be happier to coach these guys on defense.”
Jackson Sanchez and Felix Chacon would capitalize when the duo connected on a slant route from 23 yards out to put the Generals ahead 21-14.
The duo wasn’t done there.
Shafter’s defense forced another turnover on downs to set up a 62-yard connection from Sanchez to Chacon on the first play from scrimmage, making the score 28-14 with 6:58 to play in the 3rd quarter.
https://twitter.com/KHSDAthletics/status/1190480015856562178?s=20
Wasco responded by forcing their way into the red zone but the Generals had other plans.
Tigers’ running back Misyn Lane had the ball stripped by Jackson Sanchez leading to a Generals recovery with 9:22 left in the game.
Wasco would get the ball back after a failed 4th down conversion by Shafter and capped off their drive off with a touchdown to make it 28-21.
Unfortunately for Wasco, it was too late.
Jackson Sanchez put the game out of reach with a 29-yard run with under 2 minutes to play and set his Generals up in victory formation to win the game 28-21.
“It was hard-nosed high school football,” Sanchez said. “We grinded the game out and came out on top. Shoutout to the offensive line. We pushed the front all night.”
Shafter grabbed themselves a share of the SSL title with Chavez tonight, finishing league play with a 4-1 record.
“It feels good especially from where we started,” Shafter head coach Jerald Pierucci said. “We were 0-1 and at rock bottom. Those kids really just bear down and started believing and now here we are as co-league champs.”
The Shafter Generals will head into the CIF Central Section Division V Playoffs next Friday with eyes on a valley championship.
“We want a valley title,” Jackson Sanchez said. “That’s our goal. We’re going to take it one game at a time and get it.”
WHS - 7 7 0 7 - 21
SHS - 7 14 7 0 - 28
1st quarter
Wasco - Christian Alvarez 9-yard touchdown run (PAT good)
Shafter - Elijha Lucero 9-yard touchdown run (PAT good)
2nd quarter
Wasco - Jacob Villanueva to Andre Cordova for 19-yard touchdown (PAT good)
Shafter - Jackson Sanchez 3-yard touchdown run (PAT good)
Shafter - Jackson Sanchez to Felix Chacon for 23-yard touchdown (PAT good)
3rd quarter
Shafter - Jackson Sanchez to Felix Chacon for 62-yard touchdown (PAT good)
4th quarter
Wasco - Christian Alvarez 29-yard touchdown run (PAT good)
