Head coach Randy Flanagan offered words of encouragement following the top-seeded Ceres Seahawks junior-varsity football team's 42-14 loss to the No. 3 Manteca Jaguars in the Cen-Cal Junior Football League Super Bowl on Saturday at Waterford High School.
"I know it hurts to lose but we had a good season," he said. "We played tough all year."
The Seahawks compiled an 11-2 record, captured the AFC title and made their first-ever Super-Bowl appearance.
The Jaguars (11-2) finished third in the NFC.
Ceres quarterback Miguel Jimenez completed 2 of 8 passes for 45 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Nisson Sanchez had a 25-yard TD reception.
He also intercepted a pass on defense.
Gabriel Campos had a 77-yard kickoff return touchdown.
Campos rushed for a team-high 61 yards on six carries.
Coleby Garrett ran for 38 yards on five attempts.
Garrett, Ceres' fullback and middle linebacker, played with a broken finger sustained in the first quarter.
"I didn't know until after the game," Flanagan said. "He's a tough kid."
Manteca's Israel Garay had two rushing touchdowns, ran back a kickoff for a TD and returned an interception for a score. He also converted three 2-point kicks.
Angel Garay and Kobey Shippley both scored once on the ground.
"That was the difference in the football game," Flanagan said while talking about Manteca's rushing attack.
Ceres fell behind 22-8 in the first half.
The Jaguars and Seahawks traded scores in the opening 30 seconds.
Israel Garay returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown.
Campos fielded the subsequent kickoff and raced 77 yards untouched.
Jimenez's 25-yard TD pass to a wide-open Sanchez in the right side of the end zone cut the deficit to 22-14 with 9:52 left in regulation.
Shippley and Angel Garay put the contest out of reach with TD runs of 75 and 16 yards, respectively.
"It was a good game for a while," Flanagan said. "It got away from us. It just wasn't our day. We knew it was going to be tough. They're big."
Ceres fans showed their appreciation for their team late in the game.
"We love you Seahawks!" one supporter exclaimed with 1:27 to play.
"I know it hurts to lose but we had a good season," he said. "We played tough all year."
The Seahawks compiled an 11-2 record, captured the AFC title and made their first-ever Super-Bowl appearance.
The Jaguars (11-2) finished third in the NFC.
Ceres quarterback Miguel Jimenez completed 2 of 8 passes for 45 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
Nisson Sanchez had a 25-yard TD reception.
He also intercepted a pass on defense.
Gabriel Campos had a 77-yard kickoff return touchdown.
Campos rushed for a team-high 61 yards on six carries.
Coleby Garrett ran for 38 yards on five attempts.
Garrett, Ceres' fullback and middle linebacker, played with a broken finger sustained in the first quarter.
"I didn't know until after the game," Flanagan said. "He's a tough kid."
Manteca's Israel Garay had two rushing touchdowns, ran back a kickoff for a TD and returned an interception for a score. He also converted three 2-point kicks.
Angel Garay and Kobey Shippley both scored once on the ground.
"That was the difference in the football game," Flanagan said while talking about Manteca's rushing attack.
Ceres fell behind 22-8 in the first half.
The Jaguars and Seahawks traded scores in the opening 30 seconds.
Israel Garay returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown.
Campos fielded the subsequent kickoff and raced 77 yards untouched.
Jimenez's 25-yard TD pass to a wide-open Sanchez in the right side of the end zone cut the deficit to 22-14 with 9:52 left in regulation.
Shippley and Angel Garay put the contest out of reach with TD runs of 75 and 16 yards, respectively.
"It was a good game for a while," Flanagan said. "It got away from us. It just wasn't our day. We knew it was going to be tough. They're big."
Ceres fans showed their appreciation for their team late in the game.
"We love you Seahawks!" one supporter exclaimed with 1:27 to play.
