‘Those two drive the bus’: Thundering Herd in the fast lane as they savor a win
Ethan Archuleta wasn’t going to give up the ball.
He carried it throughout Friday night’s nonleague football game in Placer County, and the senior quarterback leader for Elk Grove High School had it tucked under his arm as he went through the postgame handshake line, and he still had it clutched close as he headed to the parking lot.
After an 0-2 start to the season that nearly was a 2-0 start, Archuleta was sure to cherish this effort, a 49-23 victory for the No. 10 Thundering Herd over the No. 9 Lincoln Zebras. This is also a fellow who tends to sleep with his helmet close by, just in case the alarm goes off and it’s all Herd on deck.
The point man for this triple-option rush attack, Archuleta rushed for 177 yards and a touchdown. Backfield mate Zeke Burnett had a breakout game for Elk Grove in rumbling and sprinting for 218 yards and four touchdowns, and the Thundering Herd rejoiced in a victory that was a long time coming.
Elk Grove last won a game in the 2019 Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship. The Herd played no games in the 2020 season, like everyone else due to the pandemic, and they managed to get in just one spring game. This season started with a 15-6 loss to Inderkum and a 28-27 setback to Oak Ridge, when Archuleta’s game-winning two-point conversion run attempt was stopped as time ran out.
“It killed me to not play against Inderkum in the first game, and that was a hard loss to Oak Ridge, but we came out ready here, and it feels so good,” Archuletta said, ball in hand. “Oh, this ball will stay with me. I’ll take it to bed.”
Archuleta is a ball of fury at 5-foot-8 and a compact 175 pounds. He is often the fastest guy on the field. Burnett is a load at 5-11 and 190 pounds. He grew up playing with or against some of the Elk Grove players, attended Capital Christian early in his prep career and transferred to Elk Grove before the 2020 season.
“I love being here and being with these guys,” Burnett said. “We bounced back after two tough losses. We know what we’re capable of.”
In the first meeting between schools that have been opened more than 100 years, Elk Grove and Lincoln put on a good show in the first half. Burnett had scoring runs of 5 and 24 yards and Archuleta had a 23-yarder. Lincoln trailed 14-0 then tied it on a Johnny Bauser 16-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Holm and Holm’s 20-yard field goal on the final play of the half to cut it to 21-17.
Burnett’s 4-yard score made it 28-17 and Lincoln pulled to within 28-23 when Thomas Mukai took a pass from Bauser and fired a 66-yard touchdown to Gabriel Burns. It was all Herd from there as Burnett scored on runs of 61 and 27 yards, and Mason Vasquez had a 6-yard score for the final tally.
Elk Grove’s defense was at times physical, led by linebackers Gio Belleci and Peter Vi, who both came up with turnovers to set up touchdowns.
The offensive line, big and skilled, led the charge. That unit is led by national recruit Simi Pale, who is flanked by Soni Finau, Kylan Fontes, James Minot and Payton Maze. Line coach Moe Loller said, “We had a extra sled work this week, There’s never too much sled work. We’re ready for more.”
Elk Grove head coach John Heffernan had the look of relief. He blamed himself for the Oak Ridge loss, saying the two-point conversion attempt to win it was not practiced enough. He also said he appreciates his team’s resolve, and especially his backfield.
“We have a great 1-2 punch with Archuleta and Burnett,” Heffernan said. “Those two definitely drive the bus.”
The bus heads to Yolo County next to face Davis in a Delta League opener. Lincoln (2-2) showed how good it can be, with its other loss coming to Del Oro 13-7.
The Zebras have a competitive leader in Bauser, the quarterback who carried a host of Herd on a 50-yard run. Linebacker Jordan Wagner also delivered some hits, including a fourth-down stop.
Lincoln opens Foothill Valley League play next against Placer and looms as that league’s favorite.
This story was originally published September 18, 2021 at 6:45 AM.