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CV scores upset
Hawks varsity football team thrills homecoming crowd with 47-27 rout of Wolves
cvvarsity.tiff
Alex Centeno (9) and Daniel Alvarado celebrate following Central Valleys 47-27 homecoming triumph over Livingston Friday night at Bulldog Stadium. Centeno totaled 94 yards and one touchdown while making his first start at quarterback. He also intercepted a pass on defense. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Central Valley High School varsity football head coach Scott Edwards celebrated with his players near the 50-yard line following Friday's night's 47-27 dismantling of visiting Livingston.

The Hawks pulled off a major upset by beating the Wolves in front of an enthusiastic homecoming crowd at Bulldog Stadium.

"It means the world to me and my teammates," Central Valley senior running back/linebacker Jayden Garcia said. "We weren't going to accept anything less than a win. Everybody stepped up and fulfilled their roles."

The Hawks improved to 4-3 on the year and 1-2 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Livingston dropped to 5-3 and 2-2.

"I challenged the guys tonight," Central Valley head coach Scott Edwards said. "It was an opportunity for us to represent the entire school. On any given night, anybody can beat anybody. We have a shot at playoffs, which is nice."

"This win gives us a lot of confidence for the rest of the season," said Garcia, who rushed for 37 yards and two touchdowns versus the Wolves. "No one in this league is a bad team. Everyone is competitive."

Central Valley racked up a season-high 440 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

"I want to get as many people involved as possible," Edwards said. "Tonight was a perfect example of that."

Alex Centeno didn't put up huge numbers while making his first start at quarterback. But he was efficient.

Centeno completed 7 of 10 passes for 66 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

He rushed for 28 yards on five carries.

Alex had one interception at defensive back.

He also recovered an onside kick.

"He was huge tonight," Edwards said. "He didn't come off the field. When things went wrong, he didn't panic. It comes down to composure. He's a leader. He played quarterback for the first quarter for us last week."

Sophomore Jonathan Barragan logged playing time at running back and defensive back.

Barragan gained 83 yards on eight attempts.

He picked off one pass on defense.

Jamarea Lumpkin led the Hawks' rushing attack with 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Moses Ghiorso added 138 yards and a pair of TDs on 17 carries.

Noah Postley, Carlos Fregoso, Adrian Badillo, Zeph Avila, Gurvak Dhami, Isaac DelaCruz and Daniel Alvarado all saw playing time on the offensive line.

Fregoso and Avila filled in for Postley and Badillo, respectively, after they left the game with injuries.

Tight ends Manuel Garcia and Alex Alvarado also helped block.

Linebacker Anthony Harrison collected 11 tackles and one sack.

Defensive end Josh Beleele had 13 tackles.

"I thought it was going to be a closer game," Jayden Garcia said. "They have a really good team."

Lumpkin scored on runs of 27 and 39 yards, and Barragan hauled in a 31-yard TD pass from Centeno as the Hawks built a slim 21-14 lead in the opening half.

The Wolves battled back from 14-0 and 21-7 deficits.

Central Valley outscored Livingston 26-13 in the second half.

The Wolves cut the deficit to one point, 21-20, on Harman Singh's 65-yard TD grab with 6:29 remaining in the third quarter.

The Hawks responded with a three-touchdown barrage.

Garcia plowed his way into the end zone from the 1-yard line at the 3:17 mark of the third quarter.

Ghiorso's 1-yard rushing TD and Zabdiel Pineda's point-after kick gave Central Valley a 34-20 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Centeno helped set up Jayden Garcia's second touchdown, a 9-yard run, with an interception.

Down 41-20, Livingston's Anthony Deol caught a 25-yard TD pass from CJ Avila to make it a 41-27 game with 6:34 to play.

Ghiorso accounted for the final touchdown of the game.

Moses scampered 28 yards with 3:40 left in regulation.

Livingston turned the ball over at Central Valley's 24-yard line less than 90 seconds later. Barragan intercepted Avila's pass attempt.

"The offensive line made their blocks and opened holes," Centeno said. "The running backs did their job. Everyone executed. Everybody had to step up. It's a big game. It's a new beginning."