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Sacramento Oracle

Lancers lose 4th straight game by wide margin

Sep 17, 2022 12:00AM ● By By Shaun Holkko, sports editor

Cordova senior quarterback Kevin Lewis rushes for a first down during a 45-6 loss at East Nicolaus on Friday, September 16. Photo by Rick Sloan

Lancers lose 4th straight game by wide margin [5 Images] Click Any Image To Expand

NICOLAUS, CA (MPG) – A tough 2022 campaign continued for the Cordova High School varsity football team Friday night with a 45-6 loss at the East Nicolaus Spartans.

The Lancers (0-4) have allowed at least 41 points in each game this season. Cordova’s fourth game of the year against regional rival Rosemont (3-1) was canceled due to the poor air quality and heat in the Sacramento region on September 9.

The Spartans (2-1) started quickly Friday against the Lancers and never looked back. East Nicolaus scored 31 points in the first quarter and led 31-0 at halftime. The Spartans first points of the night came on a five-yard rushing touchdown from senior wide receiver Dalton Novak.

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Senior running back Sonny Pina followed it up by rushing into the end zone for the successful two-point conversion attempt. Senior RB Rhett Risse scored the next touchdown on an eight-yard dash followed by senior offensive lineman Taco Mallow scoring the two-point try on the ground.

East Nicolaus quickly got the ball back by recovering an onside kick attempt. Senior WR Isaac Roccucci rushed in for the next score, this time from 10 yards out. Pina converted another two-point conversion with his legs. The Spartans continued to pour it on in the opening quarter, recovering another onside kick following a score.

Risse then rushed in for the touchdown from 12 yards out, followed by a successful point after try, making the score 31-0 after 24 minutes of play. Senior WR Easton Lunsford returned the opening-half kickoff 85 yards for the score and Roccucci nailed the PAT kick.

Cordova scored its first and only touchdown of the night on the ensuing kickoff as do-it-all senior quarterback Kevin Lewis rushed 75 yards for the touchdown. The PAT was missed. Lewis nearly had another long touchdown run Friday night, but the play was negated due to a block in the back penalty.

East Nicolaus had great field position to start their final scoring drive at their own 48-yard line following a failed onside kick attempt from the Lancers. Senior QB Ty Grigsby threw his only touchdown pass of the night on a 12-yard strike to senior tight end Ryan Engler midway through the third quarter. Roccucci converted the PAT. The Spartans ultimately won 45-6.

RELATED: El Camino dominates Cordova in shutout win

To replace the canceled contest against Rosemont, the Lancers will be playing at Burbank (0-3) on Thursday evening. The game should be very competitive as the Titans have also struggled greatly this season, allowing at least 39 points in all their losses.

Thursday’s game will be Cordova’s final preseason game before beginning league play against Foothill (2-2) on September 30. Kickoff for junior varsity is scheduled for 5 p.m. while varsity kicks off at 7:15 p.m.