A year removed from watching Ceres High’s football team hoist the Ceres Classic Crosstown Showdown perpetual trophy into the air, Central Valley returned the favor this past week.
The Hawks earned bragging rights with a 34-8 victory over the visiting Bulldogs in front of a sellout crowd Friday evening at CUSD Stadium.
“We got the trophy back,” Central Valley senior quarterback Mario Gonzalez said. “It feels amazing. We had the best week of practice. Everybody was locked in and focused. There was a lot of energy. Those are some of the reasons we did so well during the game.”
“We had a good game plan,” Ceres High senior receiver Manny Mendoza said. “Everything they did, we were ready for it. We just made too many mistakes on offense. I really expected it to be a close game for four quarters. They played better. They earned it.”
The Hawks improved to 1-2 on the season.
The Bulldogs dropped to 1-2 overall.
Central Valley improved its all-time head-to-head record versus Ceres High to 15-3.
The Bulldogs snapped a seven-year losing streak against the Hawks with a 21-20 win last fall.
Central Valley finished with 207 yards of total offense versus Ceres High.
Gonzalez completed 10 of 24 passes for 135 yard with one touchdown and one interception.
Anthony Ramirez caught five passes for 76 yards and one touchdown.
Amir Drakeford carried the ball 10 times for 24 yards and one touchdown.
Darrius Jackson rushed for 13 yards and one touchdown on four carries. He also grabbed three passes for 33 yards.
Joey Zuniga gained 29 yards on seven carries and hauled in one pass for 18 yards.
Jackson totaled six tackles and returned a fumble 23 yards for a touchdown on defense.
Drakeford had five tackles and two forced fumbles.
Josiah Sandoval had two tackles, two pass deflections and a 9-yard fumble return touchdown.
Cesar Pimentel had eight tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Alex Woods had eight tackles and one fumble recovery.
Pahulu Anitelea had three tackles and one sack.
“Defensively, we did amazing,” Gonzalez said. “We got turnovers and scored. My offensive line protected me and made some holes for our running backs. I barely got touched.”
Ceres High had 190 yards of total offense.
Donovan Osuna completed 10 of 18 passes for 112 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Manny Mendoza caught two passes for 23 yards and one touchdown.
Reis Smith totaled 50 yards on four receptions.
Daniel Davis hauled in three passes for 27 yards.
Gilbert Nuno finished with 26 yards on two catches.
Chris King’s lone reception resulted in a 15-yard gain.
Isaiah Cardona rushed for 17 yards on seven carries.
Trey Karriem had six tackles, one interception and one pass deflection on defense.
Ben Leota had two tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Junior Manny Mendoza had eight tackles and one forced fumble.
David Diaz Deleon and Ernie Miranda both had seven tackles.
Nikahli Garcia and Michael Solis each had five tackles.
Vincent Castrejon had four tackles.
“There was a lot of pressure because it’s the Crosstown Showdown,” Osuna said. “But I don’t think that got into our heads. Nobody gave up. We were playing hard throughout the game.”
Central Valley held a slim 7-2 lead at the break.
Drakeford’s 15-yard touchdown run and Brian Rochin’s point-after kick gave the Hawks a 7-0 lead with 2:09 remaining in the first quarter.
Ceres High cut the deficit to five points with a safety at the 3:33 mark of the second quarter.
Central Valley pulled away in the second half.
Jackson’s 3-yard TD run and Rochin’s second PAT extended the Hawks’ lead to 14-2 with 7:44 to play in the third quarter.
Jackson’s 23-yard fumble return touchdown and Rochin’s third extra point put Central Valley ahead by 19 points.
Osuna’s 14-yard TD pass to senior Manny Mendoza made it a two-score game (21-8).
The Hawks grabbed a commanding 28-8 lead when Sandoval returned a fumble 9 yards for a touchdown.
Gonzalez and Ramirez accounted for the game’s final touchdown.
Gonzalez threw a 22-yard TD pass to Ramirez with 2:09 left in the fourth quarter.
Central Valley will play host to Modesto High (1-2) at CUSD Stadium this Friday at 7 p.m.
