Football:

In the 2022 season opener, West Ranch got out to a 12-0 lead, and the Wildcats would outlast St. Francis, 61-41, in a Friday night shootout.

After spotting West Ranch a 6-yard TD run by Luke Deperno and a pick-six by the Wildcats’ Connor Reyes, Devyn Turner would score on a 10-yard run.

The two-point conversion failed, and the Golden Knights trailed, 12-6, in the first quarter.

Ryan Staub would increase the West Ranch lead to 19-6 after tossing a 52-yard TD pass to William Seidel.

Jett McCullough caught a 9-yard TD pass from Golden Knights quarterback Jack Jacobs

The Wildcats answered with a 62-yard double pass from Staub to Chaz Hilst, who would connect with Seidel for the score.

Jacobs tossed an 11-yard TD pass to Hank Foley, which pulled SFHS to within 26-20.

Staub rumbled in from eight yards out to extend the West Ranch lead to 33-20 with 4:32 left in the first half.

Jacobs threw his third TD pass of the first half, hitting Preston Jernegan on a 21-yard scoring strike with 25 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

St. Francis took its first lead of the game (34-33) in the third quarter, as John Calmette scored on a 6-yard TD run.

The Wildcats, however, would outscore the Golden Knights, 28-7, the rest of the way, to claim a 20-point victory.

Trailing 61-34, St. Francis’ last score of the night was a Jacobs to Jernegan 7-yard TD connection with 7:24 to play.

While it’s just one game, the score wasn’t the only thing that had to concern St. Francis coach Dean Herrington.

Late in the first half, the Golden Knights’ star transfer from Texas, running back Devyn Turner, left the game with what looked to be an ankle injury.

Turner was in street clothes on the St. Francis sideline in the second half, and he had his ankle wrapped while leaning on crutches.

It goes without saying, that we all wish Devyn a very speedy recovery.

Up next: The Golden Knights travel to Mira Costa on Friday night.

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Box Score:
SF: 13-14-7-0-(41)
WR: 19-14-22-6-(61)

Records: St. Francis (0-1); West Ranch (1-0)