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Seahawks advance to AFC title contest
Ceres, Oakdale will battle for Super-Bowl berth
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Isaiah Gonzales returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown during the Ceres Seahawks varsity football teams 46-7 blowout of Buhach in the AFC playoffs on Saturday at Ceres High. - photo by Photo courtesy of Willie Solorio

The Ceres Seahawks varsity youth football team kept its perfect record intact with a 46-7 win over the visiting Buhach Thunder in the first round of the Cen-Cal AFC playoffs on Saturday at Central Valley High School.

"We got to give some of our starters some rest and not risk any injuries," heach coach Joe Borba said. "Everybody got to play."

Top-seeded Ceres improved to 11-0 overall and earned the right to battle the No. 2 Oakdale Stampede for a berth to the Super Bowl.

"The two best teams in the league are playing for the conference championship," Borba said. "We match up pretty well."

Ceres' Anthony Lopez rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns on two carries versus fourth-seeded Buhach.

Isaiah Epps had a 43-yard rushing TD.

Eli Beltran gained 30 yards and scored one touchdown on three carries.

Julian Lopez totaled 18 yards and one TD on two carries.

Isaiah Gonzales led the way on defense.

Gonzalez returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown.

He totaled three tackles.

Julian Lopez collected five tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble.

Roy Prunty and Anthony Lopez chipped in with five and four tackles, respectively.

Ceres outscored Buhach 46-0 during the first three quarters.

Anthony Lopez raced 53 yards for a TD in the first quarter.

Epps and Julian Lopez had touchdown runs of 44 and 10 yards, respectively, in the second quarter.

Gonzales had a defensive touchdown.

Beltran capped the scoring with a 4-yard rushing TD in the third quarter.

The AFC Championship game will be staged this Saturday at Ceres High School.
Kickoff slated for 7 p.m.

The Seahawks topped the Stampede 24-14 during the regular season.

"Oakdale has been on a roll," Borba said. "They haven't lost since that game. They want revenge. We want to advance and show how good we are."