Tyree Jones admitted he had a disappointing junior season for Central Valley High School's varsity football team in 2009.
He totaled 510 yards and four touchdowns while splitting time at running back with three-year standout Vince Lopez.
On Thursday night, the 5-foot-6, 170-pound senior carried the ball 13 times for 193 yards and one score in the Hawks' 21-7 loss at Johansen.
"We've been waiting for him to play that way," Central Valley head coach Tim Garcia said. "That's a positive."
Added Jones: "My fullback and line helped me do that."
The Hawks held a slim 7-0 lead at halftime against the Vikings.
Central Valley (0-2) should have been up by more.
Jones and fullback Chris Moscozo combined for 54 yards during the Hawks' second possession of the game. Central Valley had to settle for a 25-yard field goal attempt after committing a false-start penalty at the Johansen 1 and tossing an incomplete pass on third down. The Vikings blocked Daniel Ochoa's low kick.
Jones broke a scoreless tie when he rumbled 83 yards for a TD with 5:08 remaining in the first half. Greg Tripp, Tyree's younger brother, made a key block downfield.
Johansen nearly scored on its final possession of the second quarter following a Central Valley turnover.
Jones and Terrence Sadler broke up potential TD passes in the end zone.
The Vikings (1-2) seized the momentum in the second half by scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions.
Preston Lee and Jonathon Uperesa had TD runs of 32 and 39 yards, respectively, in the third quarter.
Central Valley had two touchdowns negated after intermission because of penalties.
Jones' 45-yard TD run was called back on a clip.
Nine plays later, Tripp hauled in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Navarro on fourth-and-2. The teams had to replay the down because of an offsetting pass-interference infraction.
The drive ended with a turnover on downs at the Johansen 6.
Zach Henry gave Johansen some much-needed breathing room when he caught a 5-yard TD pass from Armando Hernandez midway through the fourth quarter. The drive covered 70 yards and lasted over six minutes. The Vikings capitalized after Navarro threw an interception.
Greg Mathews, Central Valley's star receiver and safety, wasn't a factor on offense during the game. He continues to be slowed by a hamstring injury.
Four Hawk players were also sidelined for missing practice.
"We were kind of our own enemy tonight," Garcia said. "Even with all of those X-factors, we still had a chance to win. We were two or three plays away from the game being the other way around. We just didn't get it done."
"It's frustrating," Jones said. "We hate losing. We just got to be patient and our time will come."
Central Valley will face Grace Davis at Bulldog Stadium this Friday. Garcia was a standout quarterback with the Spartans in the 1990s.
"Everybody has that date circled on their calendar," Tim said. "It's something we've wanted to do for a long time. Now, it's happening. It's going to be fun and intense. Hopefully, we play well."
Tim will see a familiar face on the opposing sidelines. Len Johnston, Tim's high school coach, returned to Grace Davis last season after a 10-year absence.
"It was an honor to play for him," Garcia said. "We went to a clinic together during the summertime. I have high respect for him. He's someone I refer to."
JV Hawks hit Vikings
Central Valley High School's junior-varsity football team opened the 2010 season with a gut-wrenching 13-12 loss to Downey.
The Hawks bounced back with an impressive 46-0 win over host Johansen last Thursday.
"The kids came out fired up and clicked on all cylinders," coach Reg Evans said.
Kenny Lopez tossed two touchdown passes for Central Valley, which improved to 1-1 in non-conference play. Ja'Quan Gardner had three rushing scores and a punt-return TD.
Nick Van Tuinen, Juan Plasencia and Chance Shaw all scored once.
"It feels good to have a big win," Lopez said. "We worked hard at practice. We knew what our mistakes were the first game."
The Hawks stormed to a 26-0 lead in the opening half.
Gardner scored twice on the ground (3 and 40 yards) and ran back a punt (60 yards).
Van Tuinen had a 23-yard touchdown reception.
Central Valley continued to dominate after the break.
Plasencia caught a 60-yard TD pass from Lopez, Gardner sprinted 50 yards for a score and Chance Shaw added a 5-yard rushing touchdown.
"All of our plays worked," Lopez said.
He totaled 510 yards and four touchdowns while splitting time at running back with three-year standout Vince Lopez.
On Thursday night, the 5-foot-6, 170-pound senior carried the ball 13 times for 193 yards and one score in the Hawks' 21-7 loss at Johansen.
"We've been waiting for him to play that way," Central Valley head coach Tim Garcia said. "That's a positive."
Added Jones: "My fullback and line helped me do that."
The Hawks held a slim 7-0 lead at halftime against the Vikings.
Central Valley (0-2) should have been up by more.
Jones and fullback Chris Moscozo combined for 54 yards during the Hawks' second possession of the game. Central Valley had to settle for a 25-yard field goal attempt after committing a false-start penalty at the Johansen 1 and tossing an incomplete pass on third down. The Vikings blocked Daniel Ochoa's low kick.
Jones broke a scoreless tie when he rumbled 83 yards for a TD with 5:08 remaining in the first half. Greg Tripp, Tyree's younger brother, made a key block downfield.
Johansen nearly scored on its final possession of the second quarter following a Central Valley turnover.
Jones and Terrence Sadler broke up potential TD passes in the end zone.
The Vikings (1-2) seized the momentum in the second half by scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions.
Preston Lee and Jonathon Uperesa had TD runs of 32 and 39 yards, respectively, in the third quarter.
Central Valley had two touchdowns negated after intermission because of penalties.
Jones' 45-yard TD run was called back on a clip.
Nine plays later, Tripp hauled in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Navarro on fourth-and-2. The teams had to replay the down because of an offsetting pass-interference infraction.
The drive ended with a turnover on downs at the Johansen 6.
Zach Henry gave Johansen some much-needed breathing room when he caught a 5-yard TD pass from Armando Hernandez midway through the fourth quarter. The drive covered 70 yards and lasted over six minutes. The Vikings capitalized after Navarro threw an interception.
Greg Mathews, Central Valley's star receiver and safety, wasn't a factor on offense during the game. He continues to be slowed by a hamstring injury.
Four Hawk players were also sidelined for missing practice.
"We were kind of our own enemy tonight," Garcia said. "Even with all of those X-factors, we still had a chance to win. We were two or three plays away from the game being the other way around. We just didn't get it done."
"It's frustrating," Jones said. "We hate losing. We just got to be patient and our time will come."
Central Valley will face Grace Davis at Bulldog Stadium this Friday. Garcia was a standout quarterback with the Spartans in the 1990s.
"Everybody has that date circled on their calendar," Tim said. "It's something we've wanted to do for a long time. Now, it's happening. It's going to be fun and intense. Hopefully, we play well."
Tim will see a familiar face on the opposing sidelines. Len Johnston, Tim's high school coach, returned to Grace Davis last season after a 10-year absence.
"It was an honor to play for him," Garcia said. "We went to a clinic together during the summertime. I have high respect for him. He's someone I refer to."
JV Hawks hit Vikings
Central Valley High School's junior-varsity football team opened the 2010 season with a gut-wrenching 13-12 loss to Downey.
The Hawks bounced back with an impressive 46-0 win over host Johansen last Thursday.
"The kids came out fired up and clicked on all cylinders," coach Reg Evans said.
Kenny Lopez tossed two touchdown passes for Central Valley, which improved to 1-1 in non-conference play. Ja'Quan Gardner had three rushing scores and a punt-return TD.
Nick Van Tuinen, Juan Plasencia and Chance Shaw all scored once.
"It feels good to have a big win," Lopez said. "We worked hard at practice. We knew what our mistakes were the first game."
The Hawks stormed to a 26-0 lead in the opening half.
Gardner scored twice on the ground (3 and 40 yards) and ran back a punt (60 yards).
Van Tuinen had a 23-yard touchdown reception.
Central Valley continued to dominate after the break.
Plasencia caught a 60-yard TD pass from Lopez, Gardner sprinted 50 yards for a score and Chance Shaw added a 5-yard rushing touchdown.
"All of our plays worked," Lopez said.
