The members of Ceres High School's varsity football team had trouble digesting Friday night's 21-7 loss at East Union.
"It was a very solemn feeling on the bus ride home," Bulldogs head coach Brett Johnson said. "They were bummed."
The Bulldogs (1-3) have dropped three straight games since opening the season with a win over Ripon. Ceres High's offense totaled eight turnovers against East Union, Downey and Hilmar.
"We just have to keep working to get better and eliminate the mistakes," Johnson said.
Against East Union, Ceres High had two costly turnovers in the second half.
The Bulldogs evened the score at 7-7 midway through in the third quarter. Zach Naylor scored on a 3-yard run. The six-plus-minute drive consisted of 15 plays and covered 65 yards.
"We had the momentum," Johnson said.
Ceres High's subsequent possession ended with a turnover at East Union's 1-yard line. Nick Welsh's pass attempt from the Lancers' 38 was intercepted by defensive back Steven Gigli in closing seconds of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Naylor fumbled at the Ceres High 37 while fighting for extra yardage.
East Union quarterback Teejay Gordon put the game out of reach with a pair of touchdown runs. He scored from the 2-yard line at the 6:14 mark of the fourth quarter. He had a 1-yard TD with 49 seconds left in regulation.
East Union tallied the game's first touchdown in the opening quarter after blocking a Ceres High punt. Gordon scrambled 17 yards for a score.
"We were in position to win the game," Johnson said. "For whatever reason, we just don't finish."
Ceres High totaled 12 first downs and 189 yards on offense.
Naylor gained 77 yards and scored one touchdown on 22 carries.
Welsh and George Borden split time at quarterback.
Borden finished 1-for-10 for 5 yards in the first half. He threw eight straight incompletions before connecting with Jeremy Cage.
Nick was 1-for-6 with a 2-yard pass to Anthony Amirfar and an interception.
Gordon piled up 249 yards of total offense for East Union, which finished the preseason with a 3-0 record. He ran for 104 yards and three scores on 22 attempts. Teejay also passed for 145 yards.
Ceres High will play host to Beyer on Thursday, Sept. 30. The non-conference game will get underway at 7:30 p.m.
JV Bulldogs hold on
Ceres High School's junior-varsity football team escaped with a 21-12 win against East Union on Friday at Dino Cunial Field.
"We didn't execute like we have the last couple of weeks," Bulldogs head coach Clinton Goblirsch said. "But we made enough big plays to pull the game out."
East Union cut the deficit to 14-12 with a 40-yard interception return touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Ceres High's Isaiah Gonder fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced 85 yards untouched for a touchdown.
"It was a huge play," Goblirsch said. "We hadn't scored since the first quarter. It got everybody going."
East Union's first play from scrimmage on its next possession ended in disaster.
Gonder, who plays safety on defense, picked off an under-thrown pass. He caught the ball after slipping to the ground.
Isaiah has been a valuable addition since transferring from Johansen High School.
"He's done a good job of picking up stuff," Goblirsch said. "He's fit right in."
The Bulldogs capitalized twice off turnovers in building a 14-6 lead in the first half.
Ruger had a pair of 7-yard rushing touchdowns.
"Our defense played great," Goblirsch said. "Offensively, we didn't execute as well as we have."
Ceres High totaled just 157 yards during the non-league contest.
Ruger rushed for 98 yards on 20 carries.
Bulldog quarterback Blake Hurst completed just 2 of 12 passes for eight yards and was intercepted twice.
Ceres High enters the bye week with a 3-1 record.
The Bulldogs play host to the Beyer Patriots on Thursday, Sept. 30.
"The best part of it is we can get better," Goblirsch said.
• Frosh squad dominates East Union
Ceres High School's freshman football team turned Thursday's non-league game against East Union into a blowout after intermission.
The Bulldogs tallied two two touchdowns in the second half and pulled away for a 24-0 win over the Lancers at Ceres High School.
"East Union really never threatened us on offense or defense," head coach Tony Hillyer said.
Three different players had rushing TDs for the Bulldogs (2-2), including Raymond Camacho, Angel Garcia and Jr. Garcia.
Ceres High punt returner Gabriel Solis averaged 30-plus yards.
The Bulldogs outscored the Lancers 16-0 in the second half.
Angel Garcia and Jr. Garcia scored on runs of 7 and 5 yards, respectively.
They also accounted for Ceres High's two-point conversions.
Jr. Garcia scored on the ground, while Angel Garcia caught a pass from Raul Godinez.
Camacho rumbled 22 yards for a touchdown in the opening half. Jr. Garcia added the conversion run.
"It was a very solemn feeling on the bus ride home," Bulldogs head coach Brett Johnson said. "They were bummed."
The Bulldogs (1-3) have dropped three straight games since opening the season with a win over Ripon. Ceres High's offense totaled eight turnovers against East Union, Downey and Hilmar.
"We just have to keep working to get better and eliminate the mistakes," Johnson said.
Against East Union, Ceres High had two costly turnovers in the second half.
The Bulldogs evened the score at 7-7 midway through in the third quarter. Zach Naylor scored on a 3-yard run. The six-plus-minute drive consisted of 15 plays and covered 65 yards.
"We had the momentum," Johnson said.
Ceres High's subsequent possession ended with a turnover at East Union's 1-yard line. Nick Welsh's pass attempt from the Lancers' 38 was intercepted by defensive back Steven Gigli in closing seconds of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Naylor fumbled at the Ceres High 37 while fighting for extra yardage.
East Union quarterback Teejay Gordon put the game out of reach with a pair of touchdown runs. He scored from the 2-yard line at the 6:14 mark of the fourth quarter. He had a 1-yard TD with 49 seconds left in regulation.
East Union tallied the game's first touchdown in the opening quarter after blocking a Ceres High punt. Gordon scrambled 17 yards for a score.
"We were in position to win the game," Johnson said. "For whatever reason, we just don't finish."
Ceres High totaled 12 first downs and 189 yards on offense.
Naylor gained 77 yards and scored one touchdown on 22 carries.
Welsh and George Borden split time at quarterback.
Borden finished 1-for-10 for 5 yards in the first half. He threw eight straight incompletions before connecting with Jeremy Cage.
Nick was 1-for-6 with a 2-yard pass to Anthony Amirfar and an interception.
Gordon piled up 249 yards of total offense for East Union, which finished the preseason with a 3-0 record. He ran for 104 yards and three scores on 22 attempts. Teejay also passed for 145 yards.
Ceres High will play host to Beyer on Thursday, Sept. 30. The non-conference game will get underway at 7:30 p.m.
JV Bulldogs hold on
Ceres High School's junior-varsity football team escaped with a 21-12 win against East Union on Friday at Dino Cunial Field.
"We didn't execute like we have the last couple of weeks," Bulldogs head coach Clinton Goblirsch said. "But we made enough big plays to pull the game out."
East Union cut the deficit to 14-12 with a 40-yard interception return touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Ceres High's Isaiah Gonder fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced 85 yards untouched for a touchdown.
"It was a huge play," Goblirsch said. "We hadn't scored since the first quarter. It got everybody going."
East Union's first play from scrimmage on its next possession ended in disaster.
Gonder, who plays safety on defense, picked off an under-thrown pass. He caught the ball after slipping to the ground.
Isaiah has been a valuable addition since transferring from Johansen High School.
"He's done a good job of picking up stuff," Goblirsch said. "He's fit right in."
The Bulldogs capitalized twice off turnovers in building a 14-6 lead in the first half.
Ruger had a pair of 7-yard rushing touchdowns.
"Our defense played great," Goblirsch said. "Offensively, we didn't execute as well as we have."
Ceres High totaled just 157 yards during the non-league contest.
Ruger rushed for 98 yards on 20 carries.
Bulldog quarterback Blake Hurst completed just 2 of 12 passes for eight yards and was intercepted twice.
Ceres High enters the bye week with a 3-1 record.
The Bulldogs play host to the Beyer Patriots on Thursday, Sept. 30.
"The best part of it is we can get better," Goblirsch said.
• Frosh squad dominates East Union
Ceres High School's freshman football team turned Thursday's non-league game against East Union into a blowout after intermission.
The Bulldogs tallied two two touchdowns in the second half and pulled away for a 24-0 win over the Lancers at Ceres High School.
"East Union really never threatened us on offense or defense," head coach Tony Hillyer said.
Three different players had rushing TDs for the Bulldogs (2-2), including Raymond Camacho, Angel Garcia and Jr. Garcia.
Ceres High punt returner Gabriel Solis averaged 30-plus yards.
The Bulldogs outscored the Lancers 16-0 in the second half.
Angel Garcia and Jr. Garcia scored on runs of 7 and 5 yards, respectively.
They also accounted for Ceres High's two-point conversions.
Jr. Garcia scored on the ground, while Angel Garcia caught a pass from Raul Godinez.
Camacho rumbled 22 yards for a touchdown in the opening half. Jr. Garcia added the conversion run.
