Ja'Quan Gardner made every other player on the field look like they were running in slow motion.
The sophomore tailback racked up a program-record 397 rushing yards and six touchdowns as Central Valley High School's varsity football team entertained its homecoming crowd with a 49-14 blowout of first-year Pacheco Friday night at Bulldog Stadium.
"I'm not surprised at all," Hawks junior quarterback Abraham Navarro said. "I saw him (Ja'Quan) play in Pop Warner. He was smashing kids. He's doing the same thing now. He's a man."
Central Valley improved to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the Western Athletic Conference standings.
The Panthers dropped to 2-6 and 0-4.
Navarro, a third-year starter, returned to the lineup after missing a considerable amount of playing time the past month with a knee injury.
Navarro's 33-yard TD strike to Anthony Centeno gave the Hawks a four-touchdown lead at intermission.
"I'm still sore and tired," Abraham said.
Central Valley rolled after a competitive first quarter.
The Hawks reeled off 42 straight points, including 28 in the second period.
Gardner scored on runs of 64, 18 and 4 yards.
Ja'Quan raced 48 and 85 yards for TDs in the third quarter.
He averaged more than 40 yards per touchdown carry.
"It all starts up front," said Gardner, who was quick to praise his offensive line. "I just saw holes. Once I see daylight, I run to it as fast as I can. I do what the coach asks me to do."
Added Navarro: "When I hand the ball off, I know when it's going to be a touchdown."
Gardner leads the Stanislaus District with 1,291 rushing yards.
Ja'Quan rested on the bench the final 16 minutes against Pacheco.
"I tried to cheer on my team," Gardner said. "It was real fun."
Central Valley will face first-place Los Banos (6-1, 3-0) this Friday at Bulldog Stadium. The WAC contest will get underway at 7 p.m.
CV earn conference victories
Central Valley High School's junior-varsity football team rallied for a 14-10 win over Pacheco on Friday at Bulldog Stadium.
"It was a defensive battle," Hawks head coach Chris Lawrence said. "We grinded it out."
Central Valley improved to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Western Athletic Conference standings.
The Panthers dropped to 5-2 and 2-1.
Hawk all-purpose player Angelo Bermudez's 60-yard touchdown run on a crack toss left play midway through the fourth quarter proved to be the winning score. Slot receiver Marcus Clark and fullback Benjamin Anitelea both made key blocks.
"I just hit the corner, saw the safety come at me and turned on my speed," Bermudez said.
The Panthers broke a 7-7 tie with a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Central Valley and Pacheco both scored once in the opening half.
Anitelea had a 5-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter.
The Hawks piled up 201 rushing yards against Pacheco.
Bermudez, Raul Godinez and Anitelea gained 81, 70 and 49 yards, respectively.
Central Valley quarterback Milton Uti completed 4 of 8 passes for 42 yards.
Clark had two catches for 23 yards.
Tight end Cristian Romo was mainly used as a blocker.
Anitelea halted Pacheco's potential, game-winning drive with an interception at Central Valley's 35-yard line with 2:05 to play.
The Hawks ran the clock out.
Benjamin tallied a team-high 71/2 tackles.
Central Valley nose tackle Cesar Yepez had a fumble recovery in the second half.
"We knew it wasn't going to be easy," Bermudez said. "It just shows what this team can do if we play together. We're on a great high right now. It's very satisfying."
Frosh Hawks unbeaten
Central Valley High School's freshman football team overcame a sloppy start and pulled away for a 14-0 win over host Pacheco Thursday night.
The first-place Hawks beat the Panthers despite committing three turnovers inside the red zone in the opening half.
Central Valley improved to 3-0 in the WAC.
Linebacker Anthony Harrison made a team-high 10 tackles, registered three sacks, forced one fumble and recovered a fumble.
Tailback Kenneth Campbell rushed for 111 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.
Quarterback Zak Magana scored on a 1-yard keeper.
The sophomore tailback racked up a program-record 397 rushing yards and six touchdowns as Central Valley High School's varsity football team entertained its homecoming crowd with a 49-14 blowout of first-year Pacheco Friday night at Bulldog Stadium.
"I'm not surprised at all," Hawks junior quarterback Abraham Navarro said. "I saw him (Ja'Quan) play in Pop Warner. He was smashing kids. He's doing the same thing now. He's a man."
Central Valley improved to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the Western Athletic Conference standings.
The Panthers dropped to 2-6 and 0-4.
Navarro, a third-year starter, returned to the lineup after missing a considerable amount of playing time the past month with a knee injury.
Navarro's 33-yard TD strike to Anthony Centeno gave the Hawks a four-touchdown lead at intermission.
"I'm still sore and tired," Abraham said.
Central Valley rolled after a competitive first quarter.
The Hawks reeled off 42 straight points, including 28 in the second period.
Gardner scored on runs of 64, 18 and 4 yards.
Ja'Quan raced 48 and 85 yards for TDs in the third quarter.
He averaged more than 40 yards per touchdown carry.
"It all starts up front," said Gardner, who was quick to praise his offensive line. "I just saw holes. Once I see daylight, I run to it as fast as I can. I do what the coach asks me to do."
Added Navarro: "When I hand the ball off, I know when it's going to be a touchdown."
Gardner leads the Stanislaus District with 1,291 rushing yards.
Ja'Quan rested on the bench the final 16 minutes against Pacheco.
"I tried to cheer on my team," Gardner said. "It was real fun."
Central Valley will face first-place Los Banos (6-1, 3-0) this Friday at Bulldog Stadium. The WAC contest will get underway at 7 p.m.
CV earn conference victories
Central Valley High School's junior-varsity football team rallied for a 14-10 win over Pacheco on Friday at Bulldog Stadium.
"It was a defensive battle," Hawks head coach Chris Lawrence said. "We grinded it out."
Central Valley improved to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Western Athletic Conference standings.
The Panthers dropped to 5-2 and 2-1.
Hawk all-purpose player Angelo Bermudez's 60-yard touchdown run on a crack toss left play midway through the fourth quarter proved to be the winning score. Slot receiver Marcus Clark and fullback Benjamin Anitelea both made key blocks.
"I just hit the corner, saw the safety come at me and turned on my speed," Bermudez said.
The Panthers broke a 7-7 tie with a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Central Valley and Pacheco both scored once in the opening half.
Anitelea had a 5-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter.
The Hawks piled up 201 rushing yards against Pacheco.
Bermudez, Raul Godinez and Anitelea gained 81, 70 and 49 yards, respectively.
Central Valley quarterback Milton Uti completed 4 of 8 passes for 42 yards.
Clark had two catches for 23 yards.
Tight end Cristian Romo was mainly used as a blocker.
Anitelea halted Pacheco's potential, game-winning drive with an interception at Central Valley's 35-yard line with 2:05 to play.
The Hawks ran the clock out.
Benjamin tallied a team-high 71/2 tackles.
Central Valley nose tackle Cesar Yepez had a fumble recovery in the second half.
"We knew it wasn't going to be easy," Bermudez said. "It just shows what this team can do if we play together. We're on a great high right now. It's very satisfying."
Frosh Hawks unbeaten
Central Valley High School's freshman football team overcame a sloppy start and pulled away for a 14-0 win over host Pacheco Thursday night.
The first-place Hawks beat the Panthers despite committing three turnovers inside the red zone in the opening half.
Central Valley improved to 3-0 in the WAC.
Linebacker Anthony Harrison made a team-high 10 tackles, registered three sacks, forced one fumble and recovered a fumble.
Tailback Kenneth Campbell rushed for 111 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.
Quarterback Zak Magana scored on a 1-yard keeper.
