Gators end Silverado’s playoff hopes
Green Valley's Treveece Jackson rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown as the Gators (4-6, 3-4 Southeast) took advantage of six turnovers to extinguish Silverado’s playoff hopes with a 23-17 road win.
Silverado (6-4, 2-4), which needed a victory along with a Foothill loss to clinch a playoff berth, had a shot to win with one second left and the ball at Green Valley 39. Jordan Corbett intercepted a Skyhawk pass at the goal line to end the game.
“Our seniors just kept saying all week they did not want to end their careers with a loss,” Jackson said. “I told my line at halftime, just get a good push for me and once I make my cutbacks, I’ll be gone. I said just push up there and I’ll get you a win.”
Jackson’s 44-yard touchdown on the second play of the fourth quarter gave Green Valley its first lead, 17-10, and the Gators never trailed again.
On the Skyhawks’ ensuing drive, Green Valley lineman Gary Overstreet recovered a fumble on the Skyhawks’ first play from scrimmage.
Three plays later, Jackson scored on a 10-yard run to put Green Valley in control 23-10 with 10:23 remaining.
“We just made so many mental errors tonight,” Silverado coach Andy Ostolaza said. “The turnovers, the penalties. We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Silverado rallied on Tyler Anderson’s 63-yard touchdown run with 5:12 left, but had three of its fourth-quarter drives end in interceptions.
Ryan Lopez had an interception and a fumble recovery and Sean Ferraro had a pair of interceptions for the Gators defense.
Silverado outgained Green Valley 229-47 in the first half, but only led 3-0 at halftime, as the Skyhawks had a dropped touchdown pass, a missed field goal and an interception thwart first-half drives.
Teran Madu-Jules had 30 carries for 212 yards to lead Silverado, including a 34-yard touchdown run that gave the Skyhawks a 10-3 lead midway through the third quarter.
But Green Valley regained momentum on the ensuing drive when, on third down and 12, Corbett scrambled for a 68-yard touchdown run to tie the game.
“We finally figured out how to win,” Jackson said. “We figured out, if we put our minds to it, we can be winners.”
