Del Oro surges past Jesuit

Del Oro picked up a signature win Friday night, upending red-hot Jesuit 29-16 in Carmichael to keep pace in the middle of the pack in a deep Sierra Foothill League. The Golden Eagles outscored the Marauders 14-0 in the fourth quarter. Del Oro coach Josh Parry said it was a breath of fresh air to see the Golden Eagles prevail in a tight SFL contest after falling by a combined five points against Oak Ridge and Granite Bay, and noted the experience gained in those losses helped his team pull through Friday night. "We've been talking to these guys about those little things that matter and being disciplined," said Parry. "How are they going to respond? They're going to make a play and they're going to make a mistake. It's about that response, controlling that and not dwelling on what did or didn't happen. We've been trying to preach to these guys that it is going to pay off down the road. Stay the course." The Golden Eagles made big plays down the stretch. Early in the fourth quarter, Del Oro's Ty Sauve punched in a two-yard touchdown for the lead. The defense stood tall in the final minutes, forcing a turnover on downs around midfield, which allowed Brandon Alfonso to run for an eight-yard score. Chase Carmazzi intercepted pass on the ensuing Jesuit (5-3, 2-2) possession to secure the victory. "Our defense really stepped up and made some great plays," said Parry. "We had a lot of different guys stepping up and making plays for us." The offense was spearheaded by Alfonso's running game, as he barreled for 106 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Quarterback Nolen Sauve ran for 27 yards on six carries. The Golden Eagles rushed for 145 yards and averaged four yards per carry, which Parry said was impressive considering they were down their starting running back and a key lineman due to injury. "Brandon Alfonso really stepped up and did a great job," said Parry. "Up front, we had one of our top linemen break his leg and that unit really stepped it up. It wasn't one guy, it was all of them and I'm really proud of them." Nolen Sauve completed 17 of 23 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Brennan Gibbs and Landyn Parry each had touchdown catches, and Luke Galer snagged five catches for 76 yards. Del Oro (5-3 overall, 2-3 SFL) can solidify its footing in a tight Division II playoff race this week when it visits Rocklin (5-3, 1-3 SFL) in the annual Battle for the Shield in honor of fallen Rocklin police officer and Del Oro graduate Matt Redding. The Golden Eagles have dropped three straight against the Thunder, including the D-II semifinals in 2023, and Parry knows it will not be easy to get back in the win column. "It's like looking in the mirror when we play them," he said. "It's going to take discipline, accountability and doing things right. We have to protect the football, not make any mistakes and take advantage of theirs."