RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Maybe it was the full moon. Or the tough looking black jerseys. Perhaps it was because it was Friday The 13^th and they were feeling more intimidating. Whatever the case, the Cordova Lancers’ varsity football team showed more grit than it had all season to this point in a 41-13 loss against visiting Rosemont this past Friday on the Lancers’ home field.

The Lancers (0-4) played inspired at the start of the game, as Cordova junior linebacker Tui Sigavata intercepted Wolverines’ (4-0) senior quarterback Kyle Masterson on Rosemont’s opening possession, energizing the Lancers’ sideline as they would take over at the 50-yard line. Cordova would cap off a three-minute drive with senior signal caller Joey Estrada finding junior receiver James Feao on a screen pass that would go 15 yards to the house for the first points of the game, and the first points of the season for the Lancers. Cordova, who has been almost exclusively a run-heavy offense so far this season, came out throwing in an attempt to mix things up.

“We have to get people to stop loading the box on us,” Lancers’ head coach Jason Bumbaca said. “People are starting to load the box because we’re a run heavy team. We have a quarterback who can throw the ball a little bit and have some athletes out wide, so we’re trying to get them the ball. Throwing a quick hitch or a screen is just as good as a run.”

Rosemont would counter with two straight scores of their own to take a 14-7 halftime lead, and would ultimately cease the momentum for the duration of the contest. Cordova would again make it a one score game in the third quarter after senior tailback Brandon Gray leaped over the top of his offensive line for a one-yard scoring plunge, shortening the Wolverines’ lead to 20-13 after they had scored on their opening possession in the second half. From there however it was all Rosemont, as they would score 21 unanswered points to earn the victory.

Rosemont was led by Masterson, who went 16-of-24 for 201 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. As a team, the Wolverines rushed for 198 yards, including 13 carries for 92 yards from senior Zion Gedeon. Senior receiver DeMarco Brodnax was Masterson’s favorite target on the night, hauling in eight receptions for 106 yards and two scores, and also recovered a fumble in the first half that he would run in for another touchdown.

Cordova’s passing attack was all about the connection between Estrada and Feao, as all six of Estrada’s completions in the contest went to Feao for 117 yards and the first quarter touchdown. Gray, in addition to his scoring run, would tote the rock 12 times for 51 yards in a solid outing.

The Lancers will look to continue improving when they host Ponderosa on Friday, September 20, with kickoff scheduled for 7:15 p.m.