High school football: Emotional win for Washington Union; game balls; record to fall?
Eight days after beloved teammate Ernesto Garin was killed in a crash less than one mile from the stadium, the Washington Union High football team got back on the field Friday and faced Tulare Union in Easton.
The Panthers trailed 12-0 early at John Ventura Stadium before scoring the next 27 points and held on for a 33-32 win after Eric Hill made a victory-preserving defensive stop.
The Panthers (1-1) celebrated on the field and stuck four fingers and a zero in the air to remember Garin who wore No. 40.
“Came out here and played for our brother,” Washington Union quarterback Lawrence Stell said. “He passed sadly and we came out here and got the dub for him. That’s how he wanted it.”
Panthers coach Paul Holland reflected on a week of sadness to celebration on the field after the win against the Tribe (0-2), a late replacement for the matchup after Hanford was forced to cancel because of COVID. Tulare Union came in No. 23 in The Bee’s rankings.
“It was a roller coaster of an emotion,” Holland said, calling Garin “the heart and soul of our program.
“Getting ready for this week was like we wanted to get back in, but we didn’t want to go out there without our brother. But we went out there and persevered. Those kids have a lot of character and they showed it tonight.”
Bullard 14, Turlock 12
Daizon Allen provided a big lift for The Bee’s 10th-ranked Bullard Knights.
So did the defense.
Allen caught a 5-yard pass from Roland Russo and Bullard (1-2) went for the go-ahead score and converted when Russo connected with Allen with 4:07 remaining for a 14-12 lead against Turlock at Ratcliffe Stadium.
Knights coach Don Arax and his defensive coaching staff decided to switch defensive fronts this week and that move helped as the Knights held on for the win.
“We changed our defense a little bit this week which is a scary thing in one week because you don’t typically want to do that,” Arax said. “We went from a 3-down front to a 4-down front and I thought the kids played really well.”
Clovis West 31, Edison 28
Chalk up win No. 2 for the Golden Eagles and first-year coach Eric Brown.
“We’re working to build a legacy here and build a tradition of winning and we’re starting to gain some momentum and traction and guys are expecting to win,” Brown said.
No. 25 Clovis West (2-1) went ahead 23-20 on Trey Carr’s 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Clovis West extended the lead to 31-20 when Kani Cook had a 19-yard touchdown reception from Tyler Patrick.
“They’re not surprised by the fact that we’re in games and we’re competing,” Brown said. “But I’m so proud of that group. In the short amount of time we’ve had them, they’ve come together. It’s got a chance to be a real special group.”
Central 59, Bakersfield 20
Behind Dayton Tafoya’s three touchdown passes, No. 3 Central (2-0) sent No. 9 Bakersfield to its third defeat. The Grizzlies kept pace with No. 1 Buchanan and No. 2 Liberty-Bakersfield, which each won shutouts.
Grizzlies running back Ah’marion Gaines-Smith had eight carries for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Central will remain on the road and will face Edison-Stockton on Friday.
Clovis’ Risley eyeing school record
Tristan Risley is poised to become Clovis High’s all-time leading rusher, needing 34 yards to surpass Kelvin Olivas’ 2,654 career yards set in the 1980s.
No. 5 Clovis, a 40-0 winner Friday over Ridgeview, next plays Whitney-Rocklin with kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday at Lamonica Stadium.
Game balls
▪ Ryan Warkentin had 119 yards rushing, 58 yards receiving and three touchdowns in the first quarter in Reedley’s 42-13 win over Woodlake.
▪ Devon Murphy finished with four touchdowns and also had an interception to lead Mendota to a 35-7 win over Orange Cove.
▪ Andrew Camarillo had 15 carries for 103 yards and three touchdowns in Orosi’s 56-6 win over Granite Hills.
▪ Miguel Reyna had a 5-yard touchdown reception from Mario Cosma to give Roosevelt a 34-28 overtime win over Firebaugh.
▪ Caden Rodgers had eight carries for 132 yards and four touchdowns and made nine tackles in Buchanan’s 48-0 win over Paso Robles on Thursday.
▪ Trey Carr returned an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to give Clovis West a 23-20 lead in the third quarter.
▪ Julian Flores of Madera finished with seven tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and an interception return for a touchdown in a 35-6 win over Kerman.
Tulare Western coach gets first win
Derek Rosa was a Tulare Western assistant for the past seven seasons as a quarterback coach and the offensive coordinator.
Now he can celebrate his first win as a head coach after the 19th-ranked Mustangs defeated No. 6 Frontier 16-14.
Rosa took over for Ryan Rocha who stepped down to spend time with his family.
Player of the Week winner
Beau Green of Madera is The Bee’s Week 1 Player of the Week winner.
Green had 70.1% of the votes, finishing ahead of Ashton Rodriquez of Sanger who had 27.1%.
Green completed 10 of 13 for 228 yards and three TDs and also had a 55-yard touchdown run in the Coyotes’ 35-0 win over Selma.
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Top 25 fared
1. Buchanan (3-0) defeated Paso Robles 48-0
2. Liberty-Bakersfield (3-0) defeated Stellar Prep-Hayward 56-0
3. Central (2-0) defeated Bakersfield 59-20
4. San Joaquin Memorial (2-0) defeated Bakersfield Christian 49-7
5. Clovis (3-0) defeated Ridgeview 40-0
6. Frontier (2-1) lost to Tulare Western 16-14
7. Garces (2-1) lost to Bishop Diego-Santa Barbara 30-14
8. Sanger (1-1) did not play
9. Bakersfield (0-3) lost to Clovis 40-0
10. Bullard (1-2) defeated Turlock 14-12
11. Central Valley Christian (2-1) lost to Mission Prep 36-26
12. St. Joseph (0-2) did not play
13. Kingsburg (1-1) defeated Lemoore 31-21
14. Hanford (0-0) did not play
15. Bakersfield Christian (1-1) lost to San Joaquin Memorial 49-7
16. Paso Robles (1-2) lost to Buchanan 48-0
17. Nipomo (3-0) defeated Pioneer Valley 26-20
18. Centennial (3-0) defeated Independence 48-22
19. Tulare Western (1-1) defeated Frontier 16-14
20. Reedley (3-0) defeated Woodlake 42-13
21. El Diamante (1-1) lost to Clovis North 48-7
22. Redwood (0-1) did not play
23. Tulare Union (0-2) lost to Washington Union 33-32
24. Clovis West (1-1) defeated Edison 31-28
25. Clovis East (2-0) did not play
