SONORA, CA (MPG) – A magical season that will be remembered for generations came to an end Friday night as the Dixon varsity football team lost 49-34 at Sonora in the 2022 Division V CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs.

The No. 6 seed Rams (10-3) reached the section semifinals for the first time since 1974 following a 28-21 win at No. 3 Liberty Ranch on November 11. The No. 2 ranked Wildcats (10-2) defeated No. 10 Center 48-15 in their opening round game following a first-round bye.

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Sonora began the game Friday with a defensive score in the opening minute as senior Chance Pimentel picked off Dixon senior quarterback Jett Harris and returned the turnover 20 yards for six points. The Wildcats doubled their lead with a 13-yard touchdown pass from junior Adam Curnow to Pimentel midway through the first quarter.

Dixon’s first points of the night came on a 67-yard bomb from Harris to senior wide receiver Brent Green for the touchdown. Sonora led 14-7 after 12 minutes of play.

Junior Audie Peeples rushed in from four and 14 yards out, respectively, to score the Wildcats’ next two touchdowns. Harris then found Green again, this time for a modest 13-yard reception, which went for six points.

Curnow and Pimentel connected on an eight-yard pass with under a minute left in the half to add to Sonora’s lead, who led 35-14 at halftime.

The Rams attempted to chip away in the third quarter when senior running back Braden Baumbach scored a four-yard rushing touchdown. The Wildcats quickly erased any hope of a comeback when Bryce Nicolson scored back-to-back rushing touchdowns. The junior ran in from 49 and 16 yards, respectively, to give his team a four-score lead.

Harris and Green earned a hat trick halfway through the third period as they completed a 19-yard touchdown pass, the duo’s third of the evening. Dixon’s final score of the night came shortly into the final period as Harris found Baumbach for a 26-yard reception that went for six points.

Senior Luis Torres nailed his first four point after tries on Friday night but missed the last one, leaving the final score 49-34 with Sonora moving on to the D5 Championship game. The Wildcats will play No. 5 seed Escalon in the section title game on Saturday night at St. Mary’s High School in Stockton with kickoff set for 6 p.m.

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In his final game for the Rams, Harris left it all out on the field. The Golden Empire League Co-Offensive Player of the Year completed 22-of-42 pass attempts for 417 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran five times for 40 yards.

Baumbach gave it everything as well. The senior bruiser carried the ball 19 times for 122 yards and a score. Through the air, he caught two passes for 28 yards and a touchdown.

Dixon’s dynamic duo of senior receivers did not disappoint either. Green racked up a game-high eight receptions for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Torres hauled in seven catches for 95 yards.

Green and Torres along with senior defensive tackle Seyyid Smith led the defense with 12 tackles each. Senior defensive end Elijah Hairston trailed closely behind with nine tackles followed by Baumbach with eight. Green also added to his interception total with one on Friday, now up to 11 total, which leads the state.

The seniors, led by Harris, Green, Torres and Baumbach, will be graduating 15 out of 37 players from this year’s team in the spring. Following a trip to the section semifinals, the Class of 2023 will surely be remembered for years to come around Dixon.