Central Section Division I semifinals: Clovis North, Central to meet in championship
A large lead for top-seeded Clovis North against No. 4 Clovis East suddenly turned into a one-score game late in the game Friday night.
The Timberwolves trailed 34-7 early in the fourth quarter and scored 21 unanswered points to set themselves up for a potential go-ahead score.
But two penalties cost Clovis East, including an unsportsmanlike penalty on third down with 2:20 remaining that gave the Broncos a first down.
Clovis North advances to the Central Section Division I high school football championship after winning 34-28 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“I think our kids obviously got a little tight,” Clovis North coach Mike Jacot said. “Credit to Clovis East. They’ve got some dynamic playmakers. I thought they did a nice job down the stretch.”
It seemed the Broncos were running away with the game after Jackson Cinfel had two long touchdown runs of 75 and 86 yards in the first quarter.
Clovis North led 21-0 at halftime after Mario Cosma’s touchdown.
“It’s a dream,” Cinfel said. “We all came together. We all just work super hard as a family.”
The Broncos will play Central for the section championship next at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Nov. 24.
Clovis North’s last section title came in 2012 against Central.
Central back to the D-I title game
David Marquez provided a big lift for Central.
The senior quarterback passed for three touchdowns and ran for a score to lead the seventh-seeded Grizzlies to a 35-21 victory over defending D-I champion and No. 3-seeded Liberty-Bakersfield.
The Patriots took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but Marquez answered for the Grizzlies with a 37-yard touchdown pass to EJ Morgan.
Later in the game, Liberty cut Central’s lead to 21-18, but the Grizzlies went up 27-18 after Brandon Smith’s 4-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Central put the game away for good when Marquez hit Braylen Hall for a 25-yard touchdown with 6 minutes remaining.
The Grizzlies are back in the D-I championship for the first time since the 2021 season.
This story was originally published November 18, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
