Encina is preparing for their first league matchup of the season on Saturday. They will be playing at home against the Valley Christian Lions at 10:30 a.m. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Encina took a loss when they played away from home two weeks ago, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Saturday. They were the clear victors by a 42-22 margin over Florin. The high-scoring effort was just what the Bulldogs needed considering they were shut out in their previous game.
Da'Rontae Barnes had an outrageously good game as he rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on only five carries, and also picked up 60 receiving yards and one TD. He also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, picking up a sack, forcing three fumbles, and making four total tackles (2.0 for loss) in addition to snagging an interception. Angel Bishop was in the mix too, providing Encina with two scores.
Encina didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Jeremy Dew and Barnes. Encina received some extra help from Bishop, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Valley Christian had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 21.7 points) and they went ahead and made it four on Saturday. They really took it to the Eagles for the full four quarters, racking up a 56-0 win. The Lions' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Encina better keep an eye on Riley Garcia. He was instrumental in Valley Christian's win, picking up 73 receiving yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 32 yards. Garcia showed off some serious burst, lighting up the secondary with a catch for 58 yards.
Valley Christian was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 263 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.
Valley Christian's victory bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Encina, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
