Senior quarterback Andrew Hernandez remained optimistic following the Central Valley varsity football program’s 42-19 loss to visiting Ripon Friday night at CUSD Stadium.

“We’re still confident,” he said. “We’re capable of beating teams. We just need to do what the coaches ask us to do.”

Central Valley dropped to 1-2 on the year.

Ripon improved to 3-0.

“It’s still early in the season,” Hernandez said. “I see up flipping it around. Our mindset is to get better every day.”

The Hawks had 276 yards of total offense in defeat.

Isaiah Hidalgo ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.

Hernandez completed 7 of 20 passes for 76 yards with one TD and two interceptions.

He rushed for 27 yards on six carries.

Dylan Kong caught three passes for 14 yards and one touchdown.

Central Valley put up a fight for the better part of the first half.

Hidalgo’s 19-yard TD run cut the deficit to 14-6 with 7:06 to play in the second quarter.

Ripon scored twice in a span of two-plus minutes to extend its lead to 28-12.

Kong hauled in a 5-yard TD pass from Hernandez in the third quarter.

Hidalgo rumbled 50 yards for a score in the fourth quarter.

“It was surprising,” Hernandez said. “You never expect things to get out of hand like that. We know what we can do. We just weren’t executing.”

Central Valley will close out the preseason this Friday.

The Hawks will play the Enochs Eagles (3-0) at Johansen High School.

The contest will get underway at 7 p.m.

“We have to play better as a team in all three phases,” Hernandez said.