The Bears recover from a 19-0 deficit but lose 35-34 to Calaveras | due to a blocked extra point sport

Unlike the stunning victories that Summerville and Calaveras have picked up in recent weeks, this was a Mother Lode League thriller. Summerville fell to 5-1 on the season and victorious Calaveras improved to 6-1.

Cody Ferrante and Caden Spurr starred in both halves for Calaveras, with Ferrante gaining more distance with runs through gaps in the Bears' defense and Spurr intercepting a pass from Bryce Leveroos for a pick-6, making it 19 at halftime. to bring 0.

The Bears fought back on the floor in the second half, with heavy blocking and hard running from defenders like Malakai Lopez, Orlando Lopez, Colton Cash, Isaac Biggs and Bryce Leveroos.

A key sequence that made Bears players, coaches and traveling fans believe occurred with 6:06 left in the fourth quarter and the score was Calaveras 35, Summerville 28.

The score was 4-7 at the Calaveras 22-yard line. Bryce Leveroos took the snap, swept left and threw to Orlando Lopez, who turned right and threw to Bryce Leveroos right at the 6 and ran to the 1. Leveroos then took the next quick snap and pounced into the Calaveras end zone to score, bringing the Bears within one point of the tie.

Kicker Bryson Benites, who was perfect on four previous Bears PATs, stepped up, but this time Devin Ellis stepped in for Calaveras to block the extra point attempt.

Calaveras recovered the Bears' next onside kick and ran the ball all the way to the Bears' 10-yard line, eating up time before finally turning the ball over on downs with less than 5 seconds on the clock.

An incomplete pass from Summerville ended the game.

In the end, however, the Bears and their coaches did not give up. Sean Leveroos, head coach of Summerville's varsity football team, said he saw the good and the bad Friday night and the Bears still had all of their team goals within reach, including chances at league, sectional and state titles.

The Bears continue their MLL play next Friday night at home against River Islands. Calaveras has a week off and resumes league play on Oct. 18 against Big Valley Christian.

Summerville is now 2-1 in league play while Calaveras is 3-0.