Aided by a questionable pass-interference penalty, Livingston grabbed a 7-0 lead with 5:50 remaining in the second quarter.
Determined not to disappoint its homecoming crowd, Central Valley High School's varsity football team tallied six unanswered TDs on its way to walloping the Wolves 42-7 Friday night at Bulldog Stadium.
"It feels good to perform like this in front of our fans," Hawks junior linebacker Benjamin Anitelea said. "We proved who had the better team today. It means a lot."
Central Valley moved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Western Athletic Conference
The Wolves dropped to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in the WAC.
The Hawks are inching closer to their goal.
Central Valley needs to win just two of its final five games to secure its first-ever playoff berth.
"The first step in winning is believing you can," Hawks head coach Jason McCloskey said. "Our kids have that confidence."
Central Valley quarterback Abraham Navarro completed 7 of 9 passes for 124 yards with two touchdowns. He also had a rushing TD.
Sophomore Angelo Bermudez caught a 50-yard TD pass and scored on a 33-yard run.
Bermudez gained 97 yards on 10 carries and caught two passes for 60 yards.
Star tailback Ja'Quan Gardner ran for 110 yards and one TD on 20 carries.
Kenny Lopez hauled in two passes for 16 yards and one touchdown.
Juan Plasencia rushed for 57 yards on five attempts.
Anitelea had a 38-yard fumble return touchdown. Benjamin also made nine tackles and recovered a fumble.
Raul Godinez tallied seven tackles, two interceptions and one sack.
Nick Van Tuinen collected 11 tackles and one sack.
Jose Medina chipped in with five tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery.
Central Valley reeled off 42 straight points against Livingston.
Navarro's 50-yard TD pass to Bermudez and Alvaro Rodriguez's point-after kick evened the score at 7-7 with 2:20 remaining in the first half.
The Hawks outscored the Wolves 35-0 in the second half.
"We made adjustments to our blocking scheme," McCloskey said.
Navarro tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Lopez in the third quarter.
Gardner raced 16 yards for a touchdown, Navarro scored on a 1-yard run and Bermudez had a 35-yard rushing TD in the final period.
Central Valley was penalized for excessive celebration following Anitelea's defensive touchdown. Benjamin's TD and Rodriguez's fourth PAT put the Hawks ahead 28-7 with 11:27 left in regulation.
"That play was huge for the momentum," McCloskey said.
"I'm just glad to be out here with my teammates," said Anitelea, who missed the previous game with a knee injury.
Central Valley could have played another quarter of football against Livingston.
"We still had juice left in the tank," McCloskey said. "We're a well-conditioned team."
McCloskey had a warning for his players following the game.
"I know it's homecoming," he said. "I heard there's going to be a party. Don't go. Just behave. Don't ruin this moment. It's the same speech I've given every year. I expect these kids to do what's right for them in life, not just football."
Central Valley will play football on campus for the first time in its seven-year history this Saturday.
The Hawks will play host to the Patterson Tigers (3-1, 0-0) at 2:30 p.m.
Game on own turf
Central Valley High School's varsity football program will stage a game on campus for the first time in its seven-year history this Saturday.
The Hawks, who normally play their home contests at Ceres High, will battle the Patterson Tigers at 2:30 p.m.
"The administration has been working hard on it," Hawks head coach Jason McCloskey said. "You got to give credit to (Central Valley athletic director) Michelle Parrish. We get to play on our own turf. That's the only way to build a tradition. Hopefully, we get a big crowd."
"It's going to be special," Hawks senior quarterback Abraham Navarro said. "We're not going to have to take a bus (to Bulldog Stadium). We get to dress in our own locker room. The thing that makes it better is it's a meaningful game."
Central Valley will be led by Navarro, Ja'Quan Gardner (running back/defensive back), Angelo Bermudez (all-purpose), Kenny Lopez (receiver/defensive back), Benjamin Anitelea (linebacker), Nick Van Tuinen (defensive lineman), Milton Uti (defensive end/linebacker/receiver) and Marcus Rodriguez (lineman).
Abraham's parents, Luis and Maria, graduated from Patterson.
"I need to make sure I play my best," said Navarro, whose teams have an 0-3 career record versus the Tigers. "If we play like we did against Livingston, we'll have a good chance at beating them. A victory will give us a lot of momentum and more confidence."
The Hawks have one of the most-improved defenses in the Stanislaus District.
Central Valley surrenders just 14.1 points per game.
The Hawks allowed 31.3 points per game in 2011.
"We have a stout defense," McCloskey said. "You've seen the results."
"It's going to be a good game," Anitelea said. "I hope everyone comes out and supports us."
Central Valley, 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the WAC, will make history if it wins at least two of its final five games. The Hawks would be assured their first-ever playoff berth.
"We're doing a lot of things other Central Valley teams haven't done before," Navarro said. "We're united. Coach McCloskey is leading us in the right direction."
"I wouldn't trade any of my teammates for anyone else," Anitelea added. "We can be one of the top teams. We just got to keep working."
"We got a great group of kids that are motivated and want to be successful," McCloskey said. "They're buying into what our coaching staff is selling."
Central Valley fielded its first-ever varsity football team in 2006.
The Hawks have never won more than five games in a single season.
Determined not to disappoint its homecoming crowd, Central Valley High School's varsity football team tallied six unanswered TDs on its way to walloping the Wolves 42-7 Friday night at Bulldog Stadium.
"It feels good to perform like this in front of our fans," Hawks junior linebacker Benjamin Anitelea said. "We proved who had the better team today. It means a lot."
Central Valley moved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Western Athletic Conference
The Wolves dropped to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in the WAC.
The Hawks are inching closer to their goal.
Central Valley needs to win just two of its final five games to secure its first-ever playoff berth.
"The first step in winning is believing you can," Hawks head coach Jason McCloskey said. "Our kids have that confidence."
Central Valley quarterback Abraham Navarro completed 7 of 9 passes for 124 yards with two touchdowns. He also had a rushing TD.
Sophomore Angelo Bermudez caught a 50-yard TD pass and scored on a 33-yard run.
Bermudez gained 97 yards on 10 carries and caught two passes for 60 yards.
Star tailback Ja'Quan Gardner ran for 110 yards and one TD on 20 carries.
Kenny Lopez hauled in two passes for 16 yards and one touchdown.
Juan Plasencia rushed for 57 yards on five attempts.
Anitelea had a 38-yard fumble return touchdown. Benjamin also made nine tackles and recovered a fumble.
Raul Godinez tallied seven tackles, two interceptions and one sack.
Nick Van Tuinen collected 11 tackles and one sack.
Jose Medina chipped in with five tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery.
Central Valley reeled off 42 straight points against Livingston.
Navarro's 50-yard TD pass to Bermudez and Alvaro Rodriguez's point-after kick evened the score at 7-7 with 2:20 remaining in the first half.
The Hawks outscored the Wolves 35-0 in the second half.
"We made adjustments to our blocking scheme," McCloskey said.
Navarro tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Lopez in the third quarter.
Gardner raced 16 yards for a touchdown, Navarro scored on a 1-yard run and Bermudez had a 35-yard rushing TD in the final period.
Central Valley was penalized for excessive celebration following Anitelea's defensive touchdown. Benjamin's TD and Rodriguez's fourth PAT put the Hawks ahead 28-7 with 11:27 left in regulation.
"That play was huge for the momentum," McCloskey said.
"I'm just glad to be out here with my teammates," said Anitelea, who missed the previous game with a knee injury.
Central Valley could have played another quarter of football against Livingston.
"We still had juice left in the tank," McCloskey said. "We're a well-conditioned team."
McCloskey had a warning for his players following the game.
"I know it's homecoming," he said. "I heard there's going to be a party. Don't go. Just behave. Don't ruin this moment. It's the same speech I've given every year. I expect these kids to do what's right for them in life, not just football."
Central Valley will play football on campus for the first time in its seven-year history this Saturday.
The Hawks will play host to the Patterson Tigers (3-1, 0-0) at 2:30 p.m.
Game on own turf
Central Valley High School's varsity football program will stage a game on campus for the first time in its seven-year history this Saturday.
The Hawks, who normally play their home contests at Ceres High, will battle the Patterson Tigers at 2:30 p.m.
"The administration has been working hard on it," Hawks head coach Jason McCloskey said. "You got to give credit to (Central Valley athletic director) Michelle Parrish. We get to play on our own turf. That's the only way to build a tradition. Hopefully, we get a big crowd."
"It's going to be special," Hawks senior quarterback Abraham Navarro said. "We're not going to have to take a bus (to Bulldog Stadium). We get to dress in our own locker room. The thing that makes it better is it's a meaningful game."
Central Valley will be led by Navarro, Ja'Quan Gardner (running back/defensive back), Angelo Bermudez (all-purpose), Kenny Lopez (receiver/defensive back), Benjamin Anitelea (linebacker), Nick Van Tuinen (defensive lineman), Milton Uti (defensive end/linebacker/receiver) and Marcus Rodriguez (lineman).
Abraham's parents, Luis and Maria, graduated from Patterson.
"I need to make sure I play my best," said Navarro, whose teams have an 0-3 career record versus the Tigers. "If we play like we did against Livingston, we'll have a good chance at beating them. A victory will give us a lot of momentum and more confidence."
The Hawks have one of the most-improved defenses in the Stanislaus District.
Central Valley surrenders just 14.1 points per game.
The Hawks allowed 31.3 points per game in 2011.
"We have a stout defense," McCloskey said. "You've seen the results."
"It's going to be a good game," Anitelea said. "I hope everyone comes out and supports us."
Central Valley, 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the WAC, will make history if it wins at least two of its final five games. The Hawks would be assured their first-ever playoff berth.
"We're doing a lot of things other Central Valley teams haven't done before," Navarro said. "We're united. Coach McCloskey is leading us in the right direction."
"I wouldn't trade any of my teammates for anyone else," Anitelea added. "We can be one of the top teams. We just got to keep working."
"We got a great group of kids that are motivated and want to be successful," McCloskey said. "They're buying into what our coaching staff is selling."
Central Valley fielded its first-ever varsity football team in 2006.
The Hawks have never won more than five games in a single season.
