Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s football coaches used last Friday’s scrimmages to evaluate players and build depth charts.
“Effort was good,” Hawks’ leader Derrick Goblirsch said. “Execution was a little behind where we wanted it to be. That’s to be expected because we’re young and we’re a lot different team than we were last year. There’s a learning curve. Overall, the kids are working hard. We just need to clean up a few things and we’ll be fine.”
“You’re always anxious to see how it turns out,” Bulldogs’ head coach Brett Johnson stated. “I thought our kids responded and competed well. It was encouraging. But we still got work to do.”
Central Valley traveled to Lodi High for a four-team, round-robin scrimmage.
“It was our first scrimmage,” Goblirsch said. “We got an idea of what guys look like in game-time situations. Our strength was our offensive line. Our running backs and receivers were a little late to the spots they needed to be in. Timing on the passing game was a little off.”
“I thought we did alright,” he added while assessing his team’s defensive performance. “We did give up a couple big plays. We definitely got better as the night went on, which is a positive.”
Edgar Peralta and Dominic Delatorre both contributed at quarterback as the Hawks battled the Flames, East Union Lancers and Weston Ranch Cougars.
“Both of them had their moments—flashes of good things,” Goblirsch said. “We’re waiting for one of them to separate themselves. They’re still competing. They’re both pushing each other and getting better. That’s the main thing.”
Peralta logged playing time at quarterback at the varsity level last fall.
Delatorre started at the junior-varsity level.
Peralta and Delatorre will both take snaps during Central Valley’s first game of the 2024 season.
“I’d be shocked if that doesn’t happen,” Goblirsch said.
Ceres High and seven other teams competed at the Orestimba High Jamboree last week in Newman, including the Bulldogs, host Warriors, Atwater Falcons, El Capitan Gauchos, Patterson Tigers, Pitman Pride and Wolfpack.
“We executed the plays that we wanted to (on offense),” Johnson said. “I was very pleased with what I saw (on defense). Defense is all about effort, execution and teamwork.”
Ceres High scrimmaged against Patterson, Pitman and El Capitan.
Kyle Phongsa and Parker Borges split reps at quarterback.
Borges started at the JV level last year.
“They both went out there, gave us what they could and performed well,” Johnson said. “They’re battling for a position, just like all of the other kids on the team. We’re waiting for one of them to step up and distance themselves from the other.”
Jaiden Boss shined at wide receiver and defensive back.
“He showed some growth,” Johnson said.
Central Valley and Ceres High have roster sizes of 48 and 41 players, respectively.
The Hawks’ top returning players are Peralta (QB), Aiden Prudhel (OL), Cesar Pimentel (WR/DB), Isaac Garcia (RB/DB), Pahulu Anitelea (LB), Nicholas Dominguez (TE/DL), Andrue Olivas (OL/DL) and Anthony Hill (DB).
Central Valley’s top newcomers are Erick Mendoza (RB/LB), Andre Flores (WR/DB), Caden Mendonca (WR), Cristian Gudino (WR/DB), William Montez (OL/DL), Tony Millan (OL/DL) and Dominick Delgadillo (OL/DL).
The Bulldogs’ top returners are Phongsa, Boss, Reis Smith (WR/DB), Elias Carrera (OL/DL), Isaac Vizcarra (RB/LB), Manny Mendoza (RB/LB), Tre Karriem (WR/DB), Nathaniel Macias (DB/RB/WR/QB), Michael Solis (RB/LB), Daniel Davis (TE/LB), Saragun Singh (TE/DL), Jaime Torres (OL/DL) and Carlos Montano (OL/DL).
Ceres High’s top newcomers are Borges, Adrian Carrillo (DB/WR), Sam Nieto (OL/LB), Gio Sio (DL/TE), Oscar Caro (DL/OL) and Ulises Ramirez Ochoa (DL).
The Bulldogs and Hawks will kick off the 2024 season this Friday.
Ceres High will face Hughson on the road.
Central Valley will host Pitman at Ceres High’s stadium.
Both games will begin at 7 p.m.
Hughson shut out Ceres High 32-0 last year. Pitman rolled to a 29-7 win over Central Valley.
“You always want to play quality opponents,” Johnson said. “All it does is make you better. I’m excited to see how we match up against a well-coached, good football team.”
