The East County Lions football teams had a nice showing recently against the Benicia Panthers.

Coming into the contest, the Panthers Scout team was undefeated and had shutout every team they played by 40 or more points, but East County kept them off the scoreboard. The Lions scored the game’s only touchdown in the first half on a run by Domoinic Tomlin.

The East County Junior Pee Wee’s ended the game early by scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter en route to an easy win. Jaden Rashada found Colin Borrelli and Devin Carson in the first quarter, and Rashid Williams scored the third touchdown of the first quarter on a run. He also scored in the second quarter. Shamond Brooks returned a punt late in the first half to make the score 30 – 0. Defensive lineman and linebacker Dylan Frazier helped keep the game scoreless.

The Pee Wee game was a battle of two undefeated 3-0 teams. East County scored on a four-yard touchdown run by Deniro Killian. The run was set up by great blocks from fullback Dylan Seeley and lineman Josh Just, Brandon Marion, Riley McCullough, Brendan Mathers and Kairo Reid.

East County scored again on the last play of the half as Rocco Borrelli found Dorian Hale, who made a circus catch going up between two defenders to make the score 14-0. The Lions defense continued to play great, limiting the Panthers to only one score. East County scored its last touchdown on a punt return by Hale in the fourth quarter to make the final score 22-6.

The Junior Midgets won 39-0. Timmion Jeffrey got the offense rolling with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Led by safety Cole Gregerson, linebackers and corners Cody Muth, Mason Padilla, Kurosh Aryen and a few others, the defense held the Benicia Panthers offense in check the rest of the day.

The East County Lions Midget football team fell to the Panthers 14-0.  The Panthers capitalized on a blocked punt in the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead into halftime. East County had a chance to take the lead in the second half but could not find the end zone. Benicia scored a late touchdown to close out the game. East County’s defense played well again as standouts Christian Seeley, Scott Lombardi, Pauea Aumua and Jake Torrez made big hits. Isaiah Foskey had two excellent catches while John Fio and and Jerrin Easter-Williams ran hard but the offense could not crack the Benicia defense.