Central Valley High School’s football team struggled to a 2-8 overall record and last-place finish in the Central California Conference this past fall thanks in large part to injuries.
The Hawks had five different players contribute at quarterback during the course of the season.
Central Valley had just 23 players in uniform during its final game as several starting offensive linemen watched from the sidelines in street clothes.
“I’m excited to see how successful they can be,” fourth-year head coach Derrick Goblirsch said while talking about expectations for the 2023 campaign. “With the group we have, we’re going to be competitive. If we stay healthy, we’ll surprise a lot of people.”
Central Valley’s top returning players are Mario Gonzalez (Sr., QB/DB), Darius Jackson (Sr., QB/DB/LB), Anthony Ramirez (Sr., WR/DB), Tristan Villicana (Sr., RB/DB), Josh Hale (Sr., RB/LB), Josiah Sandoval (Sr., DB/WR), Joey Zuniga (Sr., RB/DB), Josh Ludwig (Sr., OL/DL), Andrue Olivas (Jr., OL/DL) and Aiden Prudhel (Jr., OL).
Gonzalez, Jackson, Ramirez, Villicana, Hale, Sandoval, Zuniga, Ludwig, Olivas and Prudhel all started last year.
Gonzalez will start at quarterback for the second year in a row. He sustained a season-ending injury during the third game of the 2022 season. He broke his left collarbone in a 21-20 loss to crosstown-rival Ceres High.
Gonzalez completed 34 of 64 passes for 376 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
He rushed for 147 yards on 24 carries.
“Mario has a great understanding of our offense,” Goblirsch said. “He’s a natural leader. He’s vocal. He makes sure everybody is doing the right thing.”
Jackson was Central Valley’s most versatile player last season out of necessity.
He racked up 1,327 yards and nine touchdowns on offense.
Jackson completed 62 of 117 passes for 851 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions while logging playing time at quarterback in place of Gonzalez.
He ran for 476 yards and one TD on 104 carries.
Jackson totaled 17 tackles on defense.
“They (Gonzalez and Jackson) will both get reps at quarterback,” Goblirsch said. “It’s a 1a, 1b situation. Mario is starting because Darrius gives us another weapon on the outside. Darrius is a special athlete. He brings so much to the table. We want to get the ball in his hands.”
Ramirez caught 17 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns. He had 58 tackles, four interceptions and three pass deflections.
Villicana had 66 tackles, 11/2 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass deflection.
Hale had 59 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and one pass deflection.
Sandoval had 30 tackles, one interception and one pass deflection.
Zuniga rushed for 21 yards on 10 carries.
He had 34 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal.
Central Valley’s top newcomers are Jared Zavala (Sr., WR), Marcus Nichols (Sr., OL/DL), Amir Drakeford (Jr., RB/LB), Adrian Hinojosa (Jr., WR/DB), Pahulu Anitelea (Jr., LB), Nick Dominguez (Jr., OL/DL) and Inderpreet Sangha (Jr., OL/DL).
“We really like our roster,” Goblirsch said. “The guys have put in a lot of work. We worked to change the culture. The biggest thing was changing the consistency in terms of attendance, especially during the offseason.”
Central Valley lost eight of 10 games and tied for last place with El Capitan in the CCC standings with a 1-5 mark.
The Hawks were outscored 355-149 last fall.
Central Valley used five different players at quarterback due to injuries, including Gonzalez, Darrius Jackson, Booty Jackson, Diego Delahoya and Mikey Brazil
“It was a tough year for us,” Goblirsch said. “Towards the end of the season, our offensive line was depleted. We were stretched so thin. We lost 3-4 starters.”
Central Valley’s 2023 regular-season schedule will include contests versus Pitman (8/18), Hughson (8/25), Ceres High (9/1), Modesto High (9/8), El Capitan (9/15), Buhach Colony (9/29), Golden Valley (10/6), Patterson (10/12), Atwater (10/20) and Merced (10/27).
Pitman, Hughson, Ceres High and Modesto High are preseason opponents. The Hawks will face El Capitan, Buhach Colony, Golden Valley, Patterson, Atwar and Merced during Central California Conference play.
“We got a good core group of kids,” Goblirsch said. “We’ll be more successful than last year but a lot of it will depend on staying healthy.”
Central Valley will face host Pitman this Friday at Turlock High School.
Kickoff slated for 7 p.m.
