Central Valley High School’s football team had the right mental approach heading into last week’s game versus defending CIF 5-AA champion Hughson.
“Our whole mindset was we didn’t have anything to lose,” senior quarterback Mario Gonzalez said. “We wanted to shock the world. I think we did surprise them. In the beginning, it was close.”
“We weren’t intimidated,” senior all-purpose player Anthony Ramirez added.
Ahead 3-0, Central Valley allowed four touchdowns in the second quarter and never recovered in losing 56-9 to the Huskies on Friday night in Hughson.
“Their championship experience took over,” Gonzalez stated.
The Hawks dropped to 0-2 overall.
The Huskies improved to 2-0.
Hughson opened the 2023 season with a 32-0 win over Ceres High the previous week.
Central Valley will try to secure its first victory of the year this Friday when it plays host to crosstown-rival Ceres High (0-1) at CUSD Stadium. Kickoff slated for 7 p.m.
“It’s going to take a lot more work in practice,” Ramirez said when asked if his team would be able to turn its season around. “We have to change the way we think. We have to ball out every quarter.”
The Hawks had 179 yards of total offense against the Huskies.
Gonzalez completed 4 of 12 passes for 105 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Ramirez’s lone reception resulted in a 78-yard gain.
He ran for 15 yards on two carries.
Ramirez also returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown.
Joey Zuniga rushed for a team-high 30 yards on seven carries.
Bryan Rochin booted a 23-yard field goal.
The Huskies piled up 499 yards of offense.
Junior quarterback Robert McDaniel completed 12 of 18 passes for 213 yards and four touchdowns.
Malakai Sumter caught four passes for 96 yards and one touchdown.
Larkin Meyer totaled 70 yards and a pair of TDs on three receptions.
Max Mankins finished with 31 yards and one touchdown on three catches.
Alex Villarreal carried the ball 16 times for 175 yards and three touchdowns.
Sebastian Ocegueda gained 28 yards and scored one TD on three carries.
Central Valley sophomore defensive back Cesar Pimentel had 13 tackles and one interception.
Joshua Hale had seven tackles, one pass deflection and half a sack.
Josiah Sandoval had seven tackles and one pass deflection.
Tristan Villicana and Pahulu Anitelea both had five tackles.
Anthony Hill had six tackles.
Darrius Jackson had four tackles and one pass deflection.
Juan Alonzo had four tackles.
Amir Drakeford had three tackles and one forced fumble.
Alex Woods had one tackle and half a sack.
“Our effort was there,” Ramirez said. “I feel we could have done way better. They are beatable if a team knows exactly what they’re doing and don’t make a lot of mistakes.”
Central Valley kept the game close in the first quarter.
Rochin’s short field goal gave the Hawks a 3-0 lead with 3:49 to play in the first quarter.
Hughson responded with 35 straight points, including 28 in the second quarter.
Ramirez’s 87-yard kickoff return touchdown ended Central Valley’s scoring drought with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
“As I was running to the sideline, I thought, ‘Oh, yeah, I’ve got this in the bag,’” said Ramirez. “But then I saw two players coming and I thought, ‘I’ve got to make a move somehow,’ so I cut inside and found a hole.”
“There was nothing but green grass,” he added.
Turlock Journal reporter Joe Cortez contributed to this report.
