The Rio Linda Knights closed out the Vacaville Bulldogs last night 31-21, in a hard fought Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoff game.
Vacaville held the Knights scoreless in the first quarter, but the Knights had their chances. A Marcel Brown touchdown was called back on a holding penalty, and a beautiful Stephen Andrews throw to the corner of the end zone was broken up by some Vacaville interference, negating another sure Rio Linda score.
The Bulldogs closed out the first quarter up 7-0 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Damonte Moore with less than a minute left on the clock.
The second quarter began the Marcel “Marvel” Brown show, punching in 2 touchdowns before the half. Kicker Jonathan Tafoya added a field goal to make the score 17-7 at the half.
(I have to note the great halftime entertainment by the Twin Rivers PD K9 officer, Jag. He was WAY better than any Frisbee dogs I’ve seen.)
The third quarter went much the same way that the first did, a tug-of-war with nobody gaining a clear advantage, but the Bulldogs started knocking on the door. A Vacaville interception quickly turned into a Bulldog touchdown with 3:13 left in the third.
Beginning the fourth quarter, Vacaville scored again with 10:56 left in the game on a 54-yard pass from Hekking to Donaldson.
Things were looking bleak when the Knights fumbled away the ball on the 12 yard line with 6:25 left to play. However, the Bulldogs couldn’t capitalize, and the cracks started to show; Vacaville was hit with an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty when linebacker Wyatt Faulkner went into the Knights huddle to argue a flag measurement with the officials.
Marcel Brown punched in his third score of the night with a 24-yard touchdown run with 2:16 remaining. Vacaville fumbled on its next series, and two plays later Leo “Thunder” Skattebo rumbled 35 yards for another score.
Vacaville had no answer. Another fumble, a punt, and the Knights’ defense punctuated the night with three straight sacks to close out the win.
Rio Linda (11-1) will host the Elk Grove Thundering Herd at home next week in the D2 semifinals. Elk Grove advanced by defeating Burbank 18-12.
Notes:
- Marcel Brown ran for 223 yards on 29 carries with three touchdowns. The Knights had a total of 323 rushing yards. Stephen Andrews threw for 84 yards.
- Knights Center Matthew Morris missed most of the second half with an ankle injury. Coach Michael Morris says it’s a high ankle sprain (same injury from the Casa Roble game). “We will rub some dirt on it!” Coach Morris says.
- This win makes it 11 in a row for Rio Linda.
