Windsor to host Del Oro this Friday in home opener
The much anticipated football season opener at Freedom High School in Oakley didn’t go as scripted on Friday, as the Jaguars suffered a 49-0 shellacking at the hands of the host Falcons.
Played under brutally hot conditions, the preseason contest was a tough way to start the season for Windsor, but there was no disgrace in losing to one of the top teams in Northern California.
“We played against speed the likes of which we won’t see again this year,” Jags head coach Kevin Ballatore said. “I did think our defensive line led by Justin Faagata, Bas Osborn and Jairo Mejia was incredible and the stadium was a great environment and atmosphere for our kids.”
The Jaguars (0-1) will need to hit the reset button when they return home for the home opener this Friday, Sept. 8 against visiting Del Oro (5/7:30 p.m.). The Golden Eagles (1-1) are a juggernaut in the San Joaquin Section and have been a regular participant in the CIF State Bowl picture for the past decade.
“Del Oro is big up front with a D-1 caliber running back and receiver,” Ballatore noted. “Our goal is to play hard and try to get better each week.”
Jags swamped in opener
Temperatures were hovering around the century mark when the Jaguars took the field on Friday against Freedom, and despite seven dropped passes, hung tough to trail by just 7-0 at the end of one.
The Falcons gained separation in the second quarter, finding pay dirt on three touchdowns to put them up 28-0 at the half. With the heat taking its toll, Windsor made wholesale line-up changes after intermission as Freedom rolled to a 49-0 win.
“We didn’t want to take a chance in that heat and were pulling a lot of guys out of the game,” Ballatore said. “One positive was we did get to play six sophomores in the game.”
