Central Valley’s girls flag football team snapped a seven-game losing streak last week.
The Hawks edged the Golden Valley Cougars 12-6 in Central California Conference play on Thursday in Merced.
“We’re happy for the win,” Central Valley head coach Tony Cordova said. “The girls have been working so hard.”
The Hawks improved to 2-13 overall and 1-5 in the CCC standings.
The Cougars dropped to 4-15 and 0-6.
“They’re really starting to understand the game,” Cordova said. “That’s really exciting.”
Central Valley’s Kalli Hoffman ran for a team-high 70 yards and one touchdown versus Golden Valley. She caught one pass for 9 yards. Hoffman had nine tackles and one pass deflection on defense.
Alexa Cadenas returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. She also had five tackles and one pass deflection.
Maddie Mastropierro had two tackles and one interception.
Alicia Espinoza had five tackles and one pass deflection.
Jade Castro had three tackles and two pass deflections.
“The score should have been a lot higher,” Cordova said. “We had plenty of opportunities. We just didn’t capitalize.”
Central Valley lost 6-0 at Buhach Colony on Sept. 19 in Atwater.
“It was a really tight game,” Cordova said. “The stress level was pretty high. I thought we should have won.”
Brianna Espinoza and Dulce Del Valle split playing time at quarterback.
Espinoza completed 7 of 15 passes for 38 yards.
Del Valle completed 2 of 5 passes for 22 yards. She also caught one pass for 8 yards.
Hoffman rushed for 34 yards and caught three passes for 18 yards. She also had two tackles and four pass deflections.
Bella Contreras caught two passes for 22 yards.
Alexa Alberto caught two passes for 12 yards.
Itzel Romero collected three tackles, two interceptions and one sack.
Cadenas had six tackles and two pass deflections.
Castro had four tackles and two pass deflections.
Alicia Espinoza had six tackles.
The Hawks and Thunder battled to a scoreless tie in the first half.
Buhach Colony outscored Central Valley 6-0 after intermission.
The Hawks will finish the first half of CCC play this week.
“The defense is really playing stellar,” Cordova said. “We just have to get our offense going. I think we’ll have some success during the second half of the season.”
CROSS COUNTRY
Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s cross country programs kicked off the 2023 league season earlier this month.
Head coaches Owen Brown (Bulldogs) and Michael Mrgudic (Hawks) praised the performances of their student-athletes.
“I saw the effort they put in,” Brown said. “They gave it their all.”
“I’m always proud of the team and everything they can do,” Mrgudic stated. “But there’s more to be desired.”
The Bulldogs traveled to O’Neill Forebay on Sept. 13 to race at the Western Athletic Conference’s #1 cluster meet.
Ceres High’s varsity girls posted a team score of 95 en route to a fourth-place finish.
Sophomore Brianna Luna led the Bulldogs as she finished fourth with a time of 23 minutes, 24 seconds on the 3-mile course.
Jaden Stahl (23:40), Stephanie Espinoza (28:22), Samira Mendoza (34:42) and Addison Chastain (35:36) placed sixth, 23rd, 46th and 48th, respectively.
Ceres High’s varsity boys posted a team score of 210 en route to an eighth-place finish.
Aaron Lopez led the Bulldogs as he finished 29th overall with a time of 20 minutes, 15 seconds on the 3-mile course.
Sergio Torres (21:18), Martin Bolanos Aleman (22:12), Simon Pezzoni (22:12), Emanuel Barrajas (22:36), Abraham Rodriguez (23:46), Kevin Pena (25:44) and Isac Cazarez (26:32) placed 39th, 48th, 48th, 54th, 65th, 75th and 78th, respectively.
Central Valley’s varsity boys posted a team score of 185 en route to a sixth-place finish at the Central California Conference’s #1 cluster meet on Sept. 13 at Buhach Colony.
Kevin Garcia led the Hawks as he took 32nd with a time of 19 minutes, 24 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.
Cesar Hernandez (20:14), Alexis Landa (20:32), Learyc Yoppini (20:39), Jackson Stokes (21:08), Franike Klino (21:19), LaDre Sengsoury (21:22), Joshua Michelena (22:31), Xavier Ramirez (22:48), Marco Coria (23:46) and Mauro Rosales (24:22) placed 39th, 41st, 42nd, 47th, 48th, 49th, 52nd, 55th, 57th and 58th, respectively.
Central Valley’s varsity girls squad didn’t post a team score due to a lack of numbers.
Ashby Anaya led the Hawks as she took 43rd with a time of 35 minutes, 23 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.
Milianna Rios (35:42) and Jasmin Madriz (36:18) placed 44th and 45th, respectively.
WATER POLO
Ceres High’s girls water polo team won one of two league matches last week.
The Bulldogs coasted to a 12-4 road win against the Pacheco Panthers in Western Athletic Conference play on Sept. 19.
Kaylie Clindaniel, Lilly Blevins and Jessie Blevins led Ceres High in scoring with three goals apiece.
Amber Hopwood added two goals.
Makynzie Hale had one goal.
Goalkeeper Arleth Sanchez made six saves.
The Bulldogs lost 11-5 to the host Los Banos Tigers on Sept. 21.
Hopwood and Jessie Blevins led Ceres High in scoring with two goals apiece.
Eva Onsurez added one goal.
Sanchez totaled eight saves at goalkeeper.
Ceres High’s boys water polo team dropped a pair of WAC matches.
The Bulldogs lost to the Tigers on Sept. 21.
Abel Samaniego led Ceres High in scoring with two goals.
Miles Cabling added one goal.
Jesus Valdovinos had 10 saves at goalkeeper.
Ceres High lost 16-0 at Pacheco on Sept. 19.
Valdovinos totaled four blocks.
