Clovis North undefeated run can be traced to all-around effort, especially in one area
Having one good running back on a team is always good for a head coach.
For Clovis North coach Mike Jacot, he not only has one reliable and durable running back.
He has three.
That would be Jackson Cinfel, McKay Madsen and Andrew Chavez.
“This is probably one of the most unselfish groups I’ve been around,” Jacot said. “They’re just a great group of kids. They bought into each other. They want nothing but team wins and success.”
Jackson Cinfel has led the way for the Broncos.
He showed it in the last game against Clovis East when he rumbled for nearly 200 yards in the first half.
Cinfel had two rushing touchdowns in the half as the Broncos advanced to the Central Section Division I championship with a 34-28 victory.
Clovis North faces Central for the Central Section Division I championship. Kickoff is set for 7:08 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Cinfel said pushing each other helped the trio.
It’s shown all season, he said.
“I think growing as a family during practice and joking around and everyone congratulating each other after big runs and big moves,” he said.
“Allows us to cheer each other on and become closer as people off the field.”
Cinfel has 1,757 rushing yards with 17 touchdowns. Not far behind in touchdowns is Madsen with 15 and Chavez is there with nine.
Cinfel, Madsen and Chavez credit the offensive line. Creating holes and lanes has led to plenty of success for the 12-0 Broncos.
“They beat down the defense play after play to allow us to burst through and get the rewarding runs,” said Madsen, who has 877 rushing yards. “I think what makes each of us so dangerous is how we can all run powerfully and quickly so that defenses still have to respect each one of us.”
How does Madsen describe Cinfel and Chavez?
He didn’t hesitate saying Cinfel “is impossible to tackle with brute running strength and breakaway speed ” and Chavez is “extremely elusive with fantastic vision to slip through the defense.”
Madsen equally knows what he can bring, too.
“I’m able to rumble through a few tackles to get needed yards and occasionally lead the offense as a wildcat quarterback.”
Prior to arriving at Clovis North, Cinfel and Madsen played football at Granite Ridge Intermediate.
Then, the three have since played together since their freshmen year with the Broncos.
“What I think makes us good is that we play the game, one play at a time,” Chavez said.
“Give it 110% every time we’re on the field. Whenever I take the field, I have a confident mindset: That we will dominate our opponents all four quarters of the game relentlessly.”
It’s a nice luxury to have for Jacot, who can rely on any of those three running backs. He even looked at his fourth running back to spell any of them, if needed.
His name is Josh Gerena. He’s scored two touchdowns.
“That kid can go, too,” Jacot said. “We don’t obviously use him very often, but he can go. When he plays on the scout team for us, he gives our defense fits.
“I’m in a very fortunate position with the kids I have.”
This story was originally published November 22, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
