Not much has gone right since Ceres High School's varsity football team kicked off the Western Athletic Conference portion of its schedule on Sept. 21.
The last-place Bulldogs dropped their third straight game via blowout, 45-0, to fourth-place Los Banos this past Friday on the road.
"It's discouraging but we're not going to quit," Ceres High senior receiver Caden Johnson said. "Everyone is trying hard. Everyone wants to win."
The Bulldogs fell to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the WAC standings.
The Tigers improved to 5-1 and 1-1.
Ceres High has been outscored 155-27 in conference play this year.
The Bulldogs tallied nine first downs and a season-low 133 yards of offense versus Los Banos.
The Bulldogs punted five times.
Ceres High quarterback Blake Hurst completed 8 of 13 passes for 74 yards.
Johnson caught six passes for 67 yards.
Jorge Arroyo was limited to 38 yards on 20 carries. He totaled 25 yards on three receptions.
Devon Ruger gained 31 yards on six carries.
Adam Welsh registered a team-high six tackles.
Eric Madrigal and Joey Carrillo both made four tackles.
Los Banos held a slim 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs allowed 33 points in the middle periods.
"We were hanging with them," Johnson said. "Then Los Banos kicked it into gear and we didn't."
The Bulldogs will try to secure their first league win of the season Friday night.
Livingston (3-4, 0-3) will try to spoil Ceres High's homecoming.
The WAC contest will get underway at 7.
"It's going to be a close game," Johnson said. "We beat them last year when we were big underdogs."
Bulldogs suffer heartbreaking loss to LB
Los Banos battled back from a two-touchdown deficit and stunned Ceres High 13-12 in junior-varsity football last Friday at home.
"We should have won," Bulldogs head coach John Bussard said.
Ceres High dropped to 3-4 on the year and 1-2 in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Bulldogs lost by one point for the second time this year.
Gregori edged Ceres High 21-20 in August.
The Bulldogs topped Pacheco 27-26 on Sept. 21.
Ceres High quarterback Brad Bussard completed 5 of 14 passes for 91 yards and one touchdown.
Brent Bussard had a 36-yard TD reception. He also rushed for 32 yards on six carries.
Freshman Tyree Williams gained 72 yards on 12 attempts.
Brad tossed a touchdown pass to Brent in the third quarter.
Brad returned an interception 30 yards for a score in the first quarter.
The Tigers outscored the Bulldogs 13-0 in the final period.
Los Banos tallied its first touchdown following a questionable pass-interference penalty on fourth-and-18.
"On film you can see there was no contact," coach Bussard said. "We defended it well. It was a bad call. It gave them new life."
The Tigers recovered the ensuing onside kick and scored the go-ahead TD with 1:30 left in regulation.
The Bulldogs will play host to Livingston this Friday at 5 p.m.
The last-place Bulldogs dropped their third straight game via blowout, 45-0, to fourth-place Los Banos this past Friday on the road.
"It's discouraging but we're not going to quit," Ceres High senior receiver Caden Johnson said. "Everyone is trying hard. Everyone wants to win."
The Bulldogs fell to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the WAC standings.
The Tigers improved to 5-1 and 1-1.
Ceres High has been outscored 155-27 in conference play this year.
The Bulldogs tallied nine first downs and a season-low 133 yards of offense versus Los Banos.
The Bulldogs punted five times.
Ceres High quarterback Blake Hurst completed 8 of 13 passes for 74 yards.
Johnson caught six passes for 67 yards.
Jorge Arroyo was limited to 38 yards on 20 carries. He totaled 25 yards on three receptions.
Devon Ruger gained 31 yards on six carries.
Adam Welsh registered a team-high six tackles.
Eric Madrigal and Joey Carrillo both made four tackles.
Los Banos held a slim 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs allowed 33 points in the middle periods.
"We were hanging with them," Johnson said. "Then Los Banos kicked it into gear and we didn't."
The Bulldogs will try to secure their first league win of the season Friday night.
Livingston (3-4, 0-3) will try to spoil Ceres High's homecoming.
The WAC contest will get underway at 7.
"It's going to be a close game," Johnson said. "We beat them last year when we were big underdogs."
Bulldogs suffer heartbreaking loss to LB
Los Banos battled back from a two-touchdown deficit and stunned Ceres High 13-12 in junior-varsity football last Friday at home.
"We should have won," Bulldogs head coach John Bussard said.
Ceres High dropped to 3-4 on the year and 1-2 in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Bulldogs lost by one point for the second time this year.
Gregori edged Ceres High 21-20 in August.
The Bulldogs topped Pacheco 27-26 on Sept. 21.
Ceres High quarterback Brad Bussard completed 5 of 14 passes for 91 yards and one touchdown.
Brent Bussard had a 36-yard TD reception. He also rushed for 32 yards on six carries.
Freshman Tyree Williams gained 72 yards on 12 attempts.
Brad tossed a touchdown pass to Brent in the third quarter.
Brad returned an interception 30 yards for a score in the first quarter.
The Tigers outscored the Bulldogs 13-0 in the final period.
Los Banos tallied its first touchdown following a questionable pass-interference penalty on fourth-and-18.
"On film you can see there was no contact," coach Bussard said. "We defended it well. It was a bad call. It gave them new life."
The Tigers recovered the ensuing onside kick and scored the go-ahead TD with 1:30 left in regulation.
The Bulldogs will play host to Livingston this Friday at 5 p.m.
