Heading into its season opener against Modesto’s Johansen High on Friday, Aug. 24, the Patterson High football team faced one big question: How would the new-look Tigers — several logging their first varsity minutes that night — perform under the lights?

By the end of the night, Patterson had answered the doubters.

The Tigers used key stops on defense and big plays from senior quarterback Joey Lopes on offense in a 46-14 win at Patterson Community Stadium.

“Tonight, we made a statement. Tomorrow, everyone will know who we are,” coach Nick Marchy told his players as they huddled at midfield following the victory. “We enjoy this win now, but we come back Monday ready to go back to work. ”

Lopes passed for 190 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a fourth score as the Tigers (1-0) trounced the visiting Vikings (0-1).

To start the game, Patterson had the ball at the Johansen 39-yard line when Michael Campbell stepped in front of an underthrown pass, stopping the Vikings’ opening drive cold on third down.

Three Johansen penalties helped Patterson set up a 1st-and-goal from the Vikings’ 4-yard line. From there, Lopes pounded through defenders for the team’s first touchdown.

Patterson began its next scoring possession at its own 39.

With less than two minutes to play in the first quarter, the Tigers pieced together an eight-play, 61-yard drive crowned by a 22-yard touchdown dart from Lopes to junior Brandon Williams, upping their advantage to 12-0.

On Patterson’s next possession, Back Tywayne Adams took a handoff from Lopes at the Tigers’ 26-yard line and fumbled the ball at the 25 while fighting for extra yardage. A Viking player scooped up the loose ball and skirted into the end zone to make it 12-7.

Patterson immediately responded with a touchdown when Lopes connected with Jordan Levu, a junior, on the team’s next possession for a 42-yard catch-and-run.

Johansen went three-and-out on its next possession, and a 40-yard punt return by Williams set up the Tigers at the Vikings’ 16. Patterson found the end zone three plays later when Lopes again connected with Levu in the corner on a 12-yard toss for a 26-7 halftime lead.

Receiving the ball, Patterson moved deep into Johansen territory on its first drive of the second half, but the defense prevented another score.

With 7:05 left in the third, Lopes under threw the ball to a receiver and was intercepted at the Johansen 9-yard line. However, the Vikings had a long return erased by a block-in-the-back penalty and gave the ball back three plays later when quarterback Isaiah Brooks was picked off by Patterson’s Miles Jacks.

From there, Drake Vatuvei took a handoff and pushed the pile for a four-yard touchdown plunge to make it 33-7 in Patterson’s favor.

Avion Warmsley returned an interception thrown by Brooks 40 yards, and Adams would score from five yards out to push the lead to 39-7.

The Tigers assembled a 75-yard scoring drive on their ensuing possession. Adams carried the ball five times, including a 50-yard touchdown sprint.

Johansen eventually posted points against Patterson’s reserve defensive unit, but the Tigers’ advantage was never in jeopardy.

“This is a confidence builder for us; we’re starting to get everyone on the same page,” Marchy said. “We wanted to see what everyone can do and get everyone going.”

The Tigers will continue their season at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, when they host Tracy’s Kimball High Jaguars.

Junior varsity

The JV Tigers posted a 48-0 win over the Johansen Vikings to start their season Friday, a result that pleased coach Harley Parson.

“I was excited with our effort, and I thought that we played well,” Parson said. “We have a group of kids who play together for four quarters and work hard on both sides of the ball.”

The scoring got started at the 1:11 mark of the first quarter with a four-play, 24-yard drive that Patterson quarterback Damien Paulo finished with a one-yard touchdown run.

Caesar Durazo recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and Antonio Vasquez scored on a 20-yard touchdown run a play later to give Patterson a 14-0 lead.

Daniel Cota’s interception with 8:23 left in the first half set up a nine-play, 48-yard drive capped by Hunter Powers’ seven-yard touchdown scamper, upping the Tiger advantage to 21-0.

Paulo later connected with Michael Lawson over the middle for an 18-yard touchdown pass, and a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown by Victor Chavez put Patterson ahead 34-0 at halftime.

Patterson’s offense continued to shine in the second half.

The Tigers began the third quarter with a three-play, 68-yard possession, highlighted by a 61-yard Paulo touchdown pass to Damarrio Hammonds.

With 1:53 remaining in the third, Johansen’s quarterback took a hit from Patterson’s Jack Brown and fumbled the ball. Andrew Arroyo picked up the loose ball and rumbled 82 yards for another Patterson touchdown.

Freshmen

Quarterback Antone Bostic threw two second-quarter touchdown passes to lead Patterson’s freshman football team to an 18-0 win over Johansen on Friday.

“Being able to get a shutout in our first game was one of the goals,” coach Eric Marroquin said. “But this is the first of many games. Our kids understand that it’s a long season.”

Antone Bostic’s 18-yard pass to Nikolaus Priester early in the second quarter gave Patterson a 6-0 lead.

The Vikings fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Patterson recovered the ball. Antone Bostic then passed 30 yards to Alec Espos for a 12-0 advantage with 5:57 left in the half.

Patterson’s defense, meanwhile, prevented Johansen from mustering any type of threat through four quarters, benefiting from the Vikings’ numerous gaffes.

Antone Bostic’s brother, Antoine Bostic, kept the Tigers’ defense involved with a third-quarter interception that set up Patterson’s final score.

The Tigers strung together a four-play, 55-yard drive, finished by a 16-yard touchdown run by Saia Tupouata, for the final margin of victory.

Contact Marc Aceves at 892-6187, ext. 28, or marc@pattersonirrigator.com.