By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Bulletin Correspondent

The Sonora Wildcats used an explosive ground attack to beat the Ripon Christian Knights 42-21 Friday night in front of a packed senior night crowd at Memorial Stadium in Ripon.

“I’m not gonna make any excuses, Sonora is a great program, and they came in here and kicked our butts,” said Ripon Christian coach Phil Grams.

Led by junior fullback Tommy Sutton, Sonora (3-2 TVL, 8-2 overall) largely dominated up front to the tune of 453 rushing yards on the night. Sutton, who surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the season, tallied 207 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.

Sonora coach Kirk Clifton and the Wildcats came into Friday night’s TVL finale looking to flip the script on their last trip down the hill to Ripon, when they lost 27-15 to Ripon on the other side of Maple Ave. on Oct. 18. The loss to the Indians all but ended the Wildcats’ chances at a TVL title in their first year in the conference.

“It was a much better performance from our guys than the last time we came to Ripon,” said Clifton of his team’s performance Friday night.

Clifton’s Wildcats set the tone early that Friday’s trip to Ripon would be a much different one. After electing to receive the opening kickoff, Sonora went 64 yards in four plays all on the ground, capped by a 49-yard touchdown run by junior running back Cash Byington, his first of three total touchdowns on the night for Sonora.

The Sonora ground game continued to chew up chunk yardage throughout the first half, and the visitors found themselves up 21-0 after Byington’s second touchdown of the night came from two yards out with 10:38 left in the second quarter.

The Knights (2-5, 4-5) showed the same fight and resolve that helped them accumulate a playoff-qualifying four wins on the year after spotting their visitors the three-score advantage early. Led by junior quarterback Mason Tameling, Ripon Christian found success in the passing game and got on the board after Tameling found wide receiver Daniel Lambdin, who fought through defenders before diving over the pylon for the first touchdown on the night for the home team.

On the ensuing possession, Sonora fumbled a hand-off exchange that was covered up by junior linebacker Chase Bunnell. The turnover proved to be just the play the Knights needed to get back in the game.

Tameling, who accounted for 154 yards through the air, 75 yards on the ground, and three total touchdowns on the night, orchestrated a drive with both his arm and his legs that culminated in a 20-yard touchdown pass to his favorite target wide receiver Amos Cady to cut the deficit to one score going into the half.

Grams spoke to his quarterback’s ability to make plays on the ground as well as through the air, opening up the Wildcats defense all night long.

“We’ve haven’t had some designed runs in for Mason for a while, but we’re trying to keep him healthy,” Grams said. “Tonight, we decided it was time to pull those out, and maybe gives another look for other teams to scout next week going into the playoffs.”

Coach Clifton and Sonora were not at all surprised by the fight shown by the Knights going into the break Friday night.

“Ripon Christian is so good offensively, I never really felt comfortable with any lead tonight,” Clifton said. “The turnover was a 14-point swing. In all likelihood, we go in and score and make it 28-7, but they were able to come back to make it a one-score game.”

With the crowd energized and all of the momentum seemingly on their side, the Knights went three-and-out to start the third quarter, a sequence coach Grams recognized as a pivotal one in deciding the final outcome Friday night.

“We came back and made it a ballgame going into half. We make adjustments at the half and come out and go three-and-out and that’s probably the game right there. Our guys still fought, but it was just too little too late,” he said.

Clifton spoke of what that stop and ensuing score did for the Wildcat’s confidence early on in the second half.

“When we held them in the third quarter and went down and scored, I felt pretty confident that we were in a good spot.”

The final knockout blow from the Wildcats came at the end of the third quarter, as Sonora quarterback Eli Ingalls capped an 88-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run of his own putting Sonora up 35-14 as time expired.

The loss was a tough one especially for the eight seniors for Ripon Christian. Coach Grams took a moment to acknowledge his senior class led by wide receiver Josh Miller and center Jimmy Heida.

“Jimmy and Josh, they are our heart and soul. They’ve been three-year starters for us. We don’t survive a rough season like this without those guys. They’ve both stepped up every single week, and they are carrying on the tradition of Ripon Christian football.”

Friday night is not the last time those Seniors will take the field however, as the Knights await Sunday’s playoff bracket announcement. A home playoff game is still possible for Ripon Christian, who earned its fourth win by beating rival Ripon 30-6 on Oct. 11 before losing their final three TVL tilts.

Grams spoke to the freshness that is a new playoff season for a program that has a history of deep runs in the postseason.

“Just like I told the guys, everyone is 0-0 starting next week. We feel battle tested, and we’re going to be alright.”

While Ripon Christian awaits their Division VI first round match-up, Sonora is expected to have a first-round bye in the same bracket.