Gustine -The Gustine Reds’ struggle continued Friday night as they fell to the visiting Waterford Wildcats with a final score of 35-6. The loss extends the Reds’ losing streak to four games, dropping their season record to 2-5, while the Wildcats improved to 4-3.
Hoping to snap their recent skid, the 2-4 Reds hosted the 3-3 Wildcats, but the visitors took control early and never looked back.
Waterford struck first after the opening kickoff, capping off a drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead. The Reds managed to drive the ball down the field and had possession at the 5-yard line as the first quarter concluded.
Early in the second, Gustine's Joao Palomino #21 punched it in from 3 yards out, but a missed extra point kept the Wildcats in the lead, 7-6. Waterford quickly responded, marching down the field for another score and successfully adding the PAT to make it 14-6.
Gustine mounted a promising drive that stalled, turning the ball over on downs at midfield with two minutes left in the half. The Wildcats capitalized on the short field, connecting on a touchdown pass with just 29 seconds remaining, extending their dominant lead to 21-6 at the break.
The Reds began the third quarter with a spark, as Daniel Navarro #2 bolted for a huge 65-yard kickoff return. However, the drive faltered inside the 5-yard line, resulting in another turnover on downs.
Midway through the quarter, a significant turn of events occurred. During a Waterford drive, an impressive hit by Gustine’s Joao Palomino led to a personal foul penalty. On the next play, tempers flared, resulting in a sideline scuffle. Both teams were assessed a personal foul, leading to a brief cooling-off period before the game resumed. The Wildcats immediately scored on a long rushing touchdown following the penalties, pushing the score to 28-6 with 3:46 left in the third.
Avery Etheridge # 25 led the Reds on another strong drive late in the third, but the possession ended with an Etheridge turnover, once again giving the ball back to Waterford.
The fourth quarter offered a glimmer of hope for the Reds when Waterford fumbled the ball away deep in Gustine territory. However, the Reds could not convert, turning the ball over on downs. The Wildcats then put the final nails in the coffin with another touchdown pass, making the score 35-6 with 2:25 remaining.
The Gustine Reds were unable to rally, ultimately falling to the Waterford Wildcats 35-6.
The Gustine Reds (2-5) will now look to rebound next Friday, October 10, at 7:15 p.m. when they travel to Le Grand, to take on the 4-3 Bulldogs.
