GUSTINE - The Gustine Reds (2-3) hosted the undefeated Mariposa Grizzly's (3-0) on a night filled with celebration and high-stakes football. Despite a valiant effort and a memorable homecoming atmosphere, the Reds came up just short, falling to Mariposa 22-16 in a game that went down to the wire.

The night began with Gustine's Homecoming festivities, as Grand Marshal and Mayor Pat Nagy performed the honorary coin toss. The Reds won the toss, but the Grizzlies elected to receive, setting the stage for a tight contest. Mariposa wasted no time, marching down the field for an opening-drive touchdown, though they missed the extra point to make it 6-0.

The Reds quickly answered. A beautiful 21-yard pass to Joao Palomino put Gustine on the board, and a successful 2-point rushing conversion by Avery Etheridge gave the Reds an 8-6 lead. Both defenses then locked in, with neither team budging for the rest of the half, and the score remained 8-6 heading into the break.

The halftime show was a spectacle to remember. The Gustine Cheerleaders wowed the crowd with high-flying stunts, followed by a spirited performance by the band. The highlight, however, was the crowning of this year's Homecoming royalty: King Joao Palomino and Queen Gwendolyn Barcelos.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle. Mariposa regained the lead in the third quarter, making the score 14-8. But the Reds showed their resilience in the fourth quarter. Danny Navarro caught a crucial touchdown pass, and a clutch 2-point rushing conversion by Palomino put Gustine back on top, 16-14.

With the lead in hand and momentum on their side, the Reds attempted an onside kick to seal the deal. But the gamble backfired. Mariposa recovered the ball and returned it for a touchdown, a devastating special team’s play that gave the Grizzlies a 22-16 lead. Gustine showed incredible heart and fight, but Mariposa was able to run out the clock in the victory formation, securing the win and keeping their undefeated season alive.

Despite the loss, several Reds players had standout performances. Avery Etheridge had a fantastic night, recording a sack and rushing for 45 yards. Palomino was a key contributor with his 21-yard touchdown reception. Danny Navarro shined, amassing 47 total reception yards and a touchdown.

After the game, a visibly proud Coach Collin Lane spoke about his team's effort. "They played an undefeated team tonight and we were up in the fourth quarter, and we had a chance to win, so I am very proud of them," he said. "We gave up two special teams touchdowns, and that's what cost us the game. But offensively we played a great game and defensively we held them to two scores but just gave one up at the end. I’m super-duper proud of my guys, we have a lot of young guys playing right now and we just got to finish strong."