Generals stay perfect on season, 50-12

The Shafter Generals football team recovered from a rather slow start and turned it on in the second half on their way to a 50-12 rout of the Edison Tigers. The win keeps the Generals perfect, with a 4-0 record.

For the second game of the season, Maryion Sloan filled the quarterback position, scoring two touchdowns with a total of 148 yards rushing on 11 carries. Christopher Espinoza had 94 yards rushing, giving Shafter consistency on the ground against the 0-4 Edison team.

The Generals opened the scoring in the first quarter when Sloan ran up the middle of the field for a 56-yard touchdown run. The Generals increased their lead with a touchdown run by Christopher Espinoza.

Edison scored midway through the second quarter, scoring on a long touchdown pass play, cutting the lead to 14-6. But, as has been the case so far this season, the Generals' special teams made a big difference. On the ensuing kickoff after the Tigers' touchdown, Alex Reyna returned for an 82-yard touchdown, making it his third game in a row with a return for a TD.

Shafter took a 21-6 lead into the locker room. The Generals scored a touchdown in the third quarter, with Espinoza carrying the load on the drive, gaining 52 yards on a run before scoring from six yards out, giving the Generals a 27-6 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Shafter exploded for 23 points, including three touchdowns and a safety.

The Generals' defense kept pressure on the Tigers' quarterback, while stopping their running game cold. They also contributed to the scoring when Aaron Jimenez picked off an Edison pass and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Generals a 50-12 lead.

Shafter will be hitting the road on Friday night, taking on St. Josephs, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. in Santa Maria.