A week removed from its 34-7 blowout loss at Escalon, Central Valley High School's varsity football team responded with a much-improved performance during its Valley Oak League opener on Friday.
The Hawks stormed back from a two-touchdown deficit before succumbing 34-28 in a barnburner to host Sierra at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Field.
The Timberwolves tallied the go-ahead score when quarterback Mike Garcia hooked up with receiver Avery White on a 68-yard touchdown with 2:13 remaining.
"It was a great game to watch," Hawks coach Tim Garcia said. "Everyone kept making plays. It could have gone either way. It's unfortunate someone had to lose."
The Hawks dropped to 1-3 on the year, including 0-1 in the VOL.
The Timberwolves improved to 3-1 overall, 1-0 in conference play.
"We're excited about the direction we're headed," Garcia said.
Central Valley amassed 17 first downs and 353 yards of total offense.
Trevor Mew completed 20 of 30 passes for 166 yards with one interception. He scored once (1).
Rick Rogers had 11 catches for 109 yards.
Joaquin Casas had two rushing touchdowns (47, 1).
Sophomore Vince Lopez ran for 107 yards on 21 carries.
Sierra tallied 15 first downs and 370 yards of offense.
Dirinna Uwakwe ran for 150 yards and four touchdowns (10, 55, 31, 8) on nine carries.
Garcia completed 8 of 16 passes for 181 yards
White had three catches for 103 yards.
The two teams combined for five TDs of 30 or more yards, including two for Central Valley.
"We knew it was going to be a good game," coach Garcia said.
"The kids had a great week of practice."
The Hawks evened the score at 28-all on Mew's 1-yard run and 2-point conversion pass to Gerald Garcia at the 2:33 mark. With the game on the line, Mike Garcia and White teamed up for what proved to be the game-winner for the Timberwolves.
"Right when we got our confidence back up, they kicked us back down," Mew said. "It's disappointing because we can play with those guys. It just didn't come out the way we wanted it to. At least we competed."
Down 14-0, Central Valley outscored Sierra 14-7 in the final three minutes, 14 seconds of the second quarter to cut the deficit in half.
Casas accounted for both of the Hawks' touchdowns.
The Hawks got within one point when lineman Sean McLeod stripped the ball from running back Corey Mootz and rumbled 94 yards for the score with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter.
Two minutes, 37 seconds later, Uwakwe found the end zone for the fourth time to put the Timberwolves ahead 28-20.
Central Valley and Sierra trades scores in the final 2:33
Mew got sacked twice during the Hawks' final drive, which ended at the Central Valley 25-yard line.
"The kids didn't fold," coach Garcia said. "They stayed focused. They kept competing. It was a good way to start league besides the outcome."
"We played well enough to stay in the game," Mew added. "No one quit. We went down fighting."
The Hawks will play host to the East Union Lancers this Friday. Kickoff slated for 7 p.m. at Ceres High School.
Deangelo Williams, Central Valley's top receiver, will be cleared to play this week. He sat out Friday's contest against Sierra with a shoulder injury.
Stephen Fonsworth, a transfer from Modesto Christian, will make his debut with the Hawks. He'll contribute at running back and linebacker.
The Hawks stormed back from a two-touchdown deficit before succumbing 34-28 in a barnburner to host Sierra at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Field.
The Timberwolves tallied the go-ahead score when quarterback Mike Garcia hooked up with receiver Avery White on a 68-yard touchdown with 2:13 remaining.
"It was a great game to watch," Hawks coach Tim Garcia said. "Everyone kept making plays. It could have gone either way. It's unfortunate someone had to lose."
The Hawks dropped to 1-3 on the year, including 0-1 in the VOL.
The Timberwolves improved to 3-1 overall, 1-0 in conference play.
"We're excited about the direction we're headed," Garcia said.
Central Valley amassed 17 first downs and 353 yards of total offense.
Trevor Mew completed 20 of 30 passes for 166 yards with one interception. He scored once (1).
Rick Rogers had 11 catches for 109 yards.
Joaquin Casas had two rushing touchdowns (47, 1).
Sophomore Vince Lopez ran for 107 yards on 21 carries.
Sierra tallied 15 first downs and 370 yards of offense.
Dirinna Uwakwe ran for 150 yards and four touchdowns (10, 55, 31, 8) on nine carries.
Garcia completed 8 of 16 passes for 181 yards
White had three catches for 103 yards.
The two teams combined for five TDs of 30 or more yards, including two for Central Valley.
"We knew it was going to be a good game," coach Garcia said.
"The kids had a great week of practice."
The Hawks evened the score at 28-all on Mew's 1-yard run and 2-point conversion pass to Gerald Garcia at the 2:33 mark. With the game on the line, Mike Garcia and White teamed up for what proved to be the game-winner for the Timberwolves.
"Right when we got our confidence back up, they kicked us back down," Mew said. "It's disappointing because we can play with those guys. It just didn't come out the way we wanted it to. At least we competed."
Down 14-0, Central Valley outscored Sierra 14-7 in the final three minutes, 14 seconds of the second quarter to cut the deficit in half.
Casas accounted for both of the Hawks' touchdowns.
The Hawks got within one point when lineman Sean McLeod stripped the ball from running back Corey Mootz and rumbled 94 yards for the score with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter.
Two minutes, 37 seconds later, Uwakwe found the end zone for the fourth time to put the Timberwolves ahead 28-20.
Central Valley and Sierra trades scores in the final 2:33
Mew got sacked twice during the Hawks' final drive, which ended at the Central Valley 25-yard line.
"The kids didn't fold," coach Garcia said. "They stayed focused. They kept competing. It was a good way to start league besides the outcome."
"We played well enough to stay in the game," Mew added. "No one quit. We went down fighting."
The Hawks will play host to the East Union Lancers this Friday. Kickoff slated for 7 p.m. at Ceres High School.
Deangelo Williams, Central Valley's top receiver, will be cleared to play this week. He sat out Friday's contest against Sierra with a shoulder injury.
Stephen Fonsworth, a transfer from Modesto Christian, will make his debut with the Hawks. He'll contribute at running back and linebacker.
