A week removed from opening the 2024 campaign with a 35-7 loss to back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section Division-VI champion Hughson, Ceres High’s football team bounced back in a big way with a 16-0 win against previously-unbeaten Delhi Thursday evening at Bulldog Stadium.
Ceres High snapped a five-game losing streak dating back to last season.
“We responded well,” Bulldogs’ head coach Brett Johnson said. “Our defense played amazing. They executed the game plan. They showed great effort and intensity every day. We got to fix a few things on offense. We have some work to do to get to where we want to be.”
The Bulldogs evened their overall record to 1-1.
The Hawks dropped to 1-1 on the season.
“A lot of respect for Delhi,” Johnson said. “They had 23 kids playing both ways.”
Junior Nathaniel Macias accounted for both of the Bulldogs’ touchdown.
He returned a punt 70 yards for a TD.
He also scored on a 6-yard run.
“He (Macias) did a really good job. It was a game he needed. He showed he deserved to be out there.”
Kyle Phongsa completed 10 of 16 passes for 94 yards with one interception.
Parker Borges completed 1 of 3 passes for 45 yards.
Michael Solis rushed for 40 yards on 10 carries.
Manny Mendoza added 30 yards on eight carries.
Reis Smith caught six passes for 90 yards.
Jaiden Boss totaled 21 yards on two receptions.
David Rodriguez converted both of his point-after kicks.
Gio Sio led Ceres High’s defense with 10 tackles and one forced fumble.
Adrian Carrillo had seven tackles and one forced fumble.
Jose Arreola had seven tackles and one safety.
Elias Carrera had four tackles and one fumble recovery.
Smith had one tackle, one interception and one pass deflection.
Solis and Fabian Torres both had nine tackles.
Tre Karriem, Nathaniel Macias and Daniel Davis had six, five and four tackles, respectively.
The Bulldogs led 7-0 lead at intermission. Macias broke a scoreless tie with a 70-yard punt-return touchdown just before halftime.
“It was a big momentum shift,” Johnson said. “It got us going right before halftime. It reaffirmed why we have him where he have him.”
Macias had a 6-yard rushing score in the third quarter.
Arreola’s safety extended Ceres High’s lead to 16-0 in the fourth quarter.
“I was really happy with getting the win. The kids fought hard from start to finish.”
