San Joaquin Memorial punches ticket to section championship with strong fourth quarter
For the first time in school history, the San Joaquin Memorial High football team is headed to the Central Section Division I championship.
The fourth-seeded Panthers scored 23 points in the fourth quarter for a 30-20 semifinal victory over top-seeded Clovis West at Lamonica Stadium on Friday.
And who led the way? None other than Fresno State-bound Brandon Ramirez who scored two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
“This is electrifying,” Ramirez said. “In four years, I’ve never been to a Valley championship. I’m so happy and I can’t believe it right now.”
San Joaquin Memorial capped the scoring on Jayden Enriquez’s interception return for a touchdown. The Panthers also had a safety in the fourth.
Panthers coach Anthony Goston said he felt “relieved” after his team came up with a win.
“That was a grind,” he said. “Some ugly spots and didn’t finish clean as we wanted to. At the end of the day, we got the win and we’re moving on.”
The Panthers will play at No. 3 Liberty-Bakersfield for the section championship on Nov. 25. The Patriots defeated No. 2 Buchanan 28-20.
San Joaquin Memorial hopes to add to its section titles after winning Divisions II and III in previous seasons.
Buchanan falls short
Buchanan started off fast thanks to an interception return for a touchdown, but Liberty-Bakersfield answered with a touchdown.
Buchanan retook the lead in the second quarter when Kannon Campbell scored on an 11-yard run, but the extra-point try sailed wide right.
Liberty came back and scored a touchdown when Cole O’Brien hit Xander Chisolm from 11 yards. The extra point was good and the Patriots never trailed again.
It wass the Bears’ third semifinal loss to Liberty in five years.
This story was originally published November 18, 2022 at 10:49 PM.
