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Martinez fills in at quarterback
Felipe Martinez
Felipe Martinez - photo by Dale Butler

Felipe Martinez didn’t expect to play quarterback during the Ceres High varsity football team’s 35-0 loss to crosstown-rival Central Valley Friday evening at Bulldog Stadium.

He entered the game after starter Clayton Taylor suffered a leg injury in the opening quarter.

“Felipe has never played quarterback. It’s a lot to put on somebody for that type of game."
Bulldogs’ head coach Matt Chachere

“Felipe has never played quarterback,” Bulldogs’ first-year head coach Matt Chachere said. “It’s a lot to put on somebody for that type of game. As a quarterback, you have to know everyone’s position. I thought he had good composure. He played hard.”

“As soon as Clayton went down, coach (Clinton Goblirsch) pulled me to the side,” Martinez said. “I had to step up and play quarterback.  I had no other choice. It was hard. I had to multi-task. It was a learning experience.”

“It changed our game strategy,” Martinez added. “I couldn’t run the ball and wasn’t able to play defense as much as I wanted to.”

Third on the depth chart at quarterback, Martinez’s main position on offense is running back.

He plays linebacker on defense.

“Felipe will be our starting quarterback from here on out,” Chachere said. “He’s a really good athlete. He’s a good leader.”

Chachere plans to start Martinez at quarterback against Lodi (Aug. 24), West (Sept. 7) and Lathrop (Sept. 14).

Martinez will move back to running back during the third week of September.

Isaac Vizcaino, a transfer from Modesto High, will be eligible to play against Beyer on Sept. 21.