Eliminated from the race for the Western Athletic Conference championship, Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s girls flag football teams battled for second place in league, playoff seeding and bragging rights last week.

The visiting Bulldogs appeared headed for a blowout loss before rallying from a three-score deficit on their way to stunning the Hawks 21-19 on Oct. 22 at CUSD Stadium.

Ceres High spoiled crosstown-rival Central Valley’s Senior Night.

“I’m so proud of the team for staying together and not falling apart,” Bulldogs’ head coach Curtis Hulstine said. “Everyone was accountable.”

“We’re disappointed in how we finished,” Hawks’ leader Tony Cordova said. “It was shocking.”

Ceres High improved to 15-7 overall and placed second in the WAC standings with an 11-3 mark.

Third-place Central Valley improved to 14-9 and compiled a 9-5 record versus conference competition.

The Hawks edged the Bulldogs 31-28 during the first half of the WAC season.

Ceres High has an all-time record of 4-1 versus Central Valley.

The Bulldogs (Division III) and Hawks (Division I) were awarded No. 9 and No. 15 seeds, respectively, for the playoffs.

“I’m glad they’re in our league now because we get to play them twice a year,” Cordova said. “It gets competitive because both sides want to win.”

Bulldog quarterback Presley Vierra passed for 331 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Hawks this past week.

Freshman Briona Bravo totaled 65 yards and two touchdowns at receiver.

Lilly Staggs had 126 yards and one touchdown receiving.

Sovannary Carter, Mariah Renteria, Jayden Garcia, Amaia Pritchett and Maria Bravo chipped in with 55, 44, 36, 11 and 10 yards, respectively.

Staggs registered three sacks on defense.

Carter had one sack.

Briona Bravo and Daisy Leon both intercepted one pass.

Hawk quarterback Abigail Krauss threw for 150 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

She also rushed for a team-high 87 yards on 14 carries.

Jocelyn Rivera ran for 79 yards and one touchdown on just five carries.

Ruby Medina had a 20-yard touchdown reception.

Freshman Mekenzie Buenrostro’s lone catch resulted in a 2-yard touchdown.

Ayleen Apeza caught three passes for 67 yards.

Mia Muniz caught four passes for 29 yards.

Jazmin Carmona caught two passes for 23 yards.

Hawk Sophia Alvarez collected one sack on defense.

Giana Breshears had five tackles.

Apreza had two tackles and one pass deflection.

Dulce Del Valle had four tackles.

Muniz and Airieana Martinez both had three tackles.

Ceres High trailed 13-0 at halftime during the rematch.

Down 19-0 early in the third quarter, the Bulldogs outscored the Hawks 21-0 the rest of the game.

“We turned the game around,” Staggs said. “This is what happens when we have faith and trust. We just had to work together as a team. We talked to each other. We made sure everybody was on the same page. We played the way Ceres Bulldogs play. We showed who we really were.”

Ceres High completed the comeback when Vierra tossed a touchdown pass to Staggs in the left corner of the end zone with less than one minute to play.

Staggs, Vierra and their Bulldog teammates celebrated on the field after the final second ticked off the scoreboard.

“My quarterback trusts me,” Staggs stated. “She knew I could score for her.”

Central Valley had a chance to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.

A potential, Hawk scoring drive ended with an interception in the end zone.

A touchdown would have increased Central Valley’s lead to 25-12.

“Ceres made some good plays,” Cordova added. “We were playing tight because we had the lead. For some reason, our team has a hard time finishing.”

“I wouldn’t change anything,” he added. “We had it. It slipped out of our hands.”

Central Valley recognized 16 senior contributors before last week’s rivalry game.

A total of 13 Hawk players were honored, including Alvarez, Breshears, Carmona, Del Valle, Krauss, Martinez, Medina, Rivera, Arely Camarena, Damaris Cisneros, Alicia Espinoza, Elia Hernandez and Layla Nowaya.   

Corena McDaniel, Karla Sarabia and Evelyn Zambrano were feted for serving as team volunteers.

The Hawks have enjoyed a major turnaround this fall thanks to leadership from upperclassmen.

“They were pivotal in the growth of our program,” Cordova said. “They set the example by working hard and getting better.”

Much-improved Central Valley dropped out of the running for the WAC title after losing 18-12 to first-place Lathrop on Oct. 20. Just like against the Bulldogs, the Hawks struggled to finish. Lathrop battled back from a 12-point deficit.

The Hawks amassed an 8-13 overall record and placed fourth in the WAC standings with a 7-7 mark in 2024.

Central Valley finished 3-20 and 2-12 in league (seventh) during its inaugural season.

“We should have won both games,” said Cordova, whose team lost to Ceres High and Lathrop by a combined eight points a week ago. “We were so close to being (WAC champions). That’s the exciting part.”