Sutter advances to playoff semifinals with low-scoring win against Ripon
Nov 12, 2022 12:00AM ● By By Shaun Holkko, sports editor
Sutter junior tight end Trenton Duchene attempts to break a tackle by a Wheatland defender during a 48-7 Huskies win on October 27 in Sutter. The Huskies defeated Ripon 14-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Division V CIF Sac Joaquin Section Football Playoffs on Friday, November 11 in Sutter. Photo by Christopher Pedigo
SUTTER, CA (MPG) – The Sutter varsity football team moved one step closer to its first CIF Sac-Joaquin Section title on Friday night with a gritty 14-0 win against Ripon in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Division V CIF SJS Football Playoffs.
The No. 1 seed Huskies (11-0) received a first-round bye as the top seed in the bracket. Sutter and the No. 8 ranked Indians (5-7) had a stalemate in the first 24 minutes of action, as the game was knotted at zero going into halftime. The Huskies scored a touchdown in each of the final two quarters, while shutting out Ripon, to ultimately win 14-0.
Sutter began its first scoring drive with great field position at their own 41-yard line following an Indians punt. Junior quarterback Jagger Beck ended the stalemate with a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Luke Miller with under a minute to go in the third period.
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The Huskies scored their other touchdown on defense with just over three minutes remaining. Senior outside linebacker Dylan Humes hauled in an interception and returned it 15 yards for the pick six.
Sophomore kicker Josiah Thompson successfully converted the point after try, as he did twice Friday. Sutter won 14-0 and advanced to the final four of the D5 bracket, where they will host No. 5 seed Escalon (9-3).
Beck finished with a pedestrian stat line, completing 3-of-8 pass attempts for 31 yards and a touchdown. However, the Huskies haven’t earned an 11-0 record this season with their passing game, Sutter has relied heavily on the run.
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The Huskies had three senior running backs combine for 164 rushing yards, which is well below the team’s average of over 300 rushing yards per game coming into Friday. Robbie Faupula racked up a game-high 77 yards on 13 carries.
Troy Brucie recorded 15 rushes for 59 yards. Miller tallied nine carries for 28 yards. All three players each caught one pass from Beck.
Sutter will play in the semifinals of the D5 CIF SJS Playoffs on Friday night against Escalon with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
