Ceres High School's freshman football team put a major scare into Hilmar last week.
Unbeaten through their first three games, the visiting Yellowjackets battled back from a two-touchdown deficit in defeating the upset-minded Bulldogs 20-14 Thursday evening.
"Obviously, it's a heartbreaking loss," Ceres High head coach Darrell Long said. "It's our first home game. The kids are extremely disappointed. We'll bounce back."
Hilmar improved to 4-0 on the year.
Ceres High dropped to 1-3 overall.
The Bulldogs beat the Hughson Huskies during the preseason. Ceres High lost to Modesto High, Gregori and Hilmar.
Ceres High will begin Western Athletic Conference play this Thursday. The Bulldogs will play host to the Los Banos Tigers. The contest will get underway at 6 p.m.
"I think we'll do fine in league," Long said. "I like the confidence of our team."
Orlando Alvarez led Ceres High in rushing this past week with 65 yards and one touchdown on eight carries.
Elliott Lewis rushed for 50 yards and one TD on 12 carries.
Joshua Gonzales completed a 65-yard pass to Angel Padilla.
The Bulldogs stormed out to a 14-0 lead in the opening half.
John Sagapolu helped set up Ceres High's first score when he blocked and recovered a punt deep in Hilmar territory.
Lewis scored on a 6-yard run and Felipe Martinez added the 2-point conversion with 2:57 remaining in the first quarter.
Alvarez accounted for the Bulldogs' final TD. He raced 17 yards for a score early in the second quarter.
Several possessions earlier, Ceres High squandered a chance to add to its lead. The Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs at Hilmar's 2-yard line.
Hilmar outscored Ceres High 20-0 during the second half.
The Yellowjackets scored their second touchdown-through the air-off a Bulldog turnover.
Hilmar broke a 14-all tie with a rushing TD late in the game.
The Yellowjackets' defense forced a turnover on downs at their own 35-yard line with 25 seconds left in the game.
"Their adjustments in the second half were better than ours," Long said. "They changed their defense from an even to odd front. They brought a little more pressure. Offensively, they went to a read option. They outplayed us. Once momentum shifted, it was hard to keep our guys up and running. We got tired. We can find a positive in this negative. We moved the ball on them."
GIRLS TENNIS
Central Valley High School's varsity girls tennis program relied on a host of players on its way to posting a 6-3 victory over host Livingston on Thursday.
"We took care of business," Hawks head coach Mike Rodriguez said. "We didn't take them lightly. They're always pretty competitive with us. We've been fortunate to be on the winning side the last couple years."
Central Valley improved to 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference standings.
The Hawks have won 13 of 15 WAC matches dating back to last season.
"Experience is the biggest factor," Rodriguez said. "The past two years, we've had quite a few seniors and juniors on the team."
Jadah Jackson defeated Livingston's Jasdeep Bassi 6-4, 6-4 in No. 2 singles play.
Celest Lepe defeated Christine Gallardo 6-1, 6-4 in No. 4 singles play.
Chelsea Flores defeated Gurwinder Kaur 6-2, 6-2 in No. 5 singles play.
Claudia Martinez defeated Gabby Ramirez 6-0, 6-0 in No. 6 singles play.
Vanessa Monroy and Amy Nguyen defeated Avneet Uppal and Amalia Barragan 6-2, 6-4 in No. 1 doubles play.
Nicole Munoz and Aileen Brambila defeated Marissa Aguilar and Esmeralda Ramos 6-2, 6-0 in No. 3 doubles play.
Central Valley will play at Patterson tomorrow at 3 p.m.
CHS improves to 2-2
Ceres High School's varsity girls tennis team won one of its two WAC matches this past week.
Ceres High beat visiting Livingston 6-3 on Sept. 15.
The Bulldogs collected four wins in singles play and two at doubles against the Wolves.
Stephanie Garcia defeated Elisa Armenta 7-5, 6-3 in No. 3 singles play.
Chelsea Heras defeated Christine Gallardo 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 in No. 4 singles play.
Jalani Blankenship defeated Gurwinder Kaur 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in No. 5 singles play.
Alicia Villegas defeated Gabby Ramirez 6-0, 6-3 in No. 6 singles play.
Sabrina Yang and Shania Evans defeated Berenice Hidalgo and Andreina Mendoza 6-4, 6-2 in No. 2 doubles play.
Sarah Cuevas and Bella Rosas defeated Marissa Aguilar and Esmeralda Ramos 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in No. 3 doubles play.
Ceres High lost 6-3 to El Capitan on Thursday.
The host Bulldogs took two of three doubles matches from the Gauchos.
Aleena Ahmed and Azia Brewster defeated Carrie Wee and Meghana Medina 6-4, 6-4 in No. 1 doubles play.
Cuevas and Rosas defeated Amanda Daraphet and Callie Neal 5-7, 6-2, 10-8 in No. 3 doubles play.
Stephanie accounted for the Bulldogs lone victory in singles action.
Garcia defeated Alaika Valera 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3 singles.
Ceres High will compete at Pacheco on Sept. 29.
CROSS COUNTRY
Patterson swept Central Valley in cross country this past week.
The Hawks' varsity girls team lost 20-35 to the Tigers on Wednesday.
Central Valley's top finisher was Vanessa Mondragon.
Mondragon took fourth overall with a time of 25 minutes, 38 seconds on the 3-mile course.
Hawk teammates Jocelyn Barrera (26:28), Jazlyn Ramirez (26:37), Luzelena Diaz (28:32) and Paula Sanchez (32:13) finished fifth, seventh, ninth and 10th, respectively.
Tigers 19, Hawks 48
Andres Rojo finished second overall during the Central Valley varsity boys cross country squad's 19-48 loss to host Patterson.
Rojo posted a time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds on the 3-mile course.
Central Valley's Joseph Juarez (20:28), Octavio Hernandez (21:16), William Sprouse (21:39) and Eric Romo (21:57) placed 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th, respectively.
Central Valley's girls (0-1) and boys (0-1) will compete at Livingston on Sept. 30.
