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The Ceres Courier WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015
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Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Football Preview
REUBEN RODRIGUEZ
•CV quarterback motivated for his final season B y DALE B U TLER Staff reporter of the
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Ceres (Calif.) Courier
euben Rodriguez’s junior season with Central Valley High School’s varsity football team came to an abrupt end last fall. Rodriguez broke his left ankle while playing safety in the Hawks’ 47-0 Western Athletic Conference season-opening loss to Pacheco. “Last year, I got hurt,” said Reuben, who totaled eight tackles in three games. “It was really hard sitting on the sidelines watching. It motivated me to work harder this summer.” Added Central Valley head coach Scott Edwards: “He was pretty aggressive with his rehab once he got his cast off.” Rodriguez will fill a major role on offense this year. The 6-foot-tall 180pound southpaw will start at quarterback. “The position needs to be filled and I wanted to step up to the challenge,” he said. “I do feel pressure. But I’m ready. All of my teammates are ready, too.” Central Valley had an open competition for its starting quarterback position before the start of the 2014-15 season. Rodriguez turned his focus elsewhere after Gerardo Solorzano emerged as the frontrunner to direct the Hawks’ offense. Solorzano transferred to Ceres High. Backup Alex Centeno graduated. “He didn’t push for the starting spot last year,” Edwards said. “He thought he had a better chance to start at defense. This year, he wants it. He changed his mechanics and release. He used to throw sidearm. I’ve seen a lot more arm strength and accuracy compared to last year. He’s gotten physically stronger. He’s shown a ton of improvement.” “I could have tried a little harder last year,” Rodriguez said. “Now, I have something to prove. I just want to work as hard as I can and do what I can to make my team better.” Rodriguez attended the Second Annual DALE BUTLER/The Courier Nate Costa Football Camp during the sumHawk senior Reuben Rodriguez will fill a different role on this year’s team. Rodriguez will mertime. start at quarterback. Reuben contributed at defensive back his junior season.
Costa, former quarterback for Hilmar High and University of Oregon, offered a three-day clinic in his hometown for 30 signal callers. “I wanted to do that so I could get better,” Rodriguez said. “It was really helpful.” Rodriguez added 10 pounds to his slender frame thanks to his offseason dedication. “I’ve been working really hard in the weight room and it’s going to show on the field,” he said. “The whole team has been working very hard. I see progress.” “The only days me missed this summer was when he went to the Costa Camp,” Edwards said.
‘The position needs to be filled and I wanted to step up to the challenge. I do feel pressure. But I’m ready.’ –Hawks quarterback Reuben Rodriguez
Solorzano, Central Valley’s starting QB in 2014, completed 42 of 82 passes for 872 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Rodriguez will strive to provide better play at quarterback this year. The Hawks return their top two offensive playmakers from a season ago in Moses Ghiorso and Jamarea Lumpkin. Ghiorso, a third-year varsity player, earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors for his outstanding play at running back and cornerback as a junior. He was also voted the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. Moses amassed 2,013 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns in 10 games. He gained 735 yards and scored 13 SEE REUBEN, PAGE 4
Football Preview
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
STIFF COMPETITION B y D A LE B U TLER Staff reporter of the
Ceres (Calif.) Courier
The 2015 prep football season will get underway this Friday. Central Valley will host the Atwater Falcons, while Ceres High will battle the Modesto High Panthers on the road. “I’m looking forward to having a winning season,” Hawks senior all-purpose player Moses Ghiorso said. “That’s our mindset. This year, we’re working harder. We have a closer bond. For us seniors, it’s our last year of high-school ball. We’re more focused and dedicated to the season because of last year. We don’t want to make the same mistakes.” Central Valley’s four preseason contacts will be with Atwater, Sierra (Sept. 4), Franklin of Stockton (Sept. 11) and Enochs (Sept. 18). The Hawks added Atwater and Enochs in place of Waterford and Castlemont. Central Valley beat Frankin 33-0 and Waterford 40-27 last year. The Hawks were shut out 56-0 by Sierra. “I’ve always been a believer in scheduling tougher opponents,” Central Valley head coach Scott Edwards said. “We want to play playoff-caliber teams. When I was at Bret Harte, we would play Escalon, Modesto Christian and Hughson.” The Bulldogs’ non-conference opponents are Modesto High, Gregori (Sept. 4), Hughson (Sept. 11) and Johansen (Sept. 18). Ceres High topped Johansen (35-24) last season. The Bulldogs lost to Modesto High (40-13), Gregori (44-20) and Hughson (26-14). “It will be an exciting season,” Bulldogs junior quarterback Chris Lubinsky said. “We’ll put up a fight in every game we play. I expect us to have success.” The Bulldogs and Hawks are both members of the Western Athletic Conference, along with Los Banos, Pacheco, Patterson, Livingston and El Capitan. Conference play will begin on Sept. 25. Ceres High will play at Los Banos. Central Valley will host Pacheco. “I’m extremely excited,” Lubinsky
said. “Our entire team is ready to take on the challenge. We’ll have a chance to make some noise in the WAC. The WAC is going to be a very strong league. I expect us to be in the playoff picture.” Central Valley (5-5, 2-4), Ceres High (3-7, 2-4) and Livingston (5-5, 3-7) tied for fourth place in the WAC standings in 2014. Los Banos (9-3, 6-0), Pacheco (7-4, 5-1) and Patterson (7-4, 4-2) placed first, second and third, respectively. Varsity-newcomer El Capitan (0-10, 0-6) finished at the bottom of the standings. Ceres High upset Central Valley (247) and routed El Capitan (48-6). The Bulldogs lost to Los Banos (3510), Livingston (26-21), Patterson (4220) and Pacheco (68-7). Central Valley collected wins against Livingston (47-27) and El Capitan (6120). The Hawks lost to Ceres High, Pacheco (47-0), Patterson (35-7) and Los Banos (14-6). Los Banos, Pacheco and Patterson all qualified for the playoffs. Los Banos advanced to the DivisionIV semifinals. “The WAC is a solid league that doesn’t get the respect it deserves,” Edwards said. “The Valley Oak League is pretty strong. Some of our top teams would step right in and compete very well.” Central Valley just missed securing its second straight playoff berth last fall. The crosstown Bulldogs upset the Hawks 24-7 on the final day of the regular season. The loss eliminated Central Valley from postseason consideration. Ceres High hasn’t compiled a winning record or qualified for the playoffs since 2004. The Bulldogs amassed a 17-73 overall record from 2005-14. “I definitely think we should be a team to watch out for,” Hawks senior quarterback Reuben Rodriguez said. “I hope so,” Edwards said. “It’s just such a long year. I expect us to be better because of our personnel. We want to win league and do some things in the playoffs.”
TEAM SCHEDULES CENTRAL VALLEY HAWKS DATE Aug. 28 Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6
OPPONENT Atwater Sierra Franklin Enochs Pacheco Patterson Livingston El Capitan Los Banos Ceres High
PLACE HOME HOME ROAD ROAD HOME ROAD ROAD HOME HOME ROAD
CERES HIGH BULLDOGS
DATE Aug. 28 Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 30 Nov. 6
OPPONENT Modesto High Gregori Hughson Johansen Los Banos Livingston Patterson Pacheco El Capitan Central Valley
PLACE ROAD ROAD HOME HOME ROAD HOME ROAD HOME ROAD HOME
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•CHS, CV begin 2015 campaign this Friday
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Football Preview
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
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2015 Ceres High Roster # 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 16 20 21 23 30 31 32 33 34 41 44 45 46 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 60 61 63 65 67 68 70 76 78 82 83 84 99
Name Austin Crain Wyatt Ogden Austin Stiles David Montufar Jr. Anthony Palomino Marcellus Boykins Conner Johnson Louie Thomas Juan Palafox Adrian Garcia Chris Lubinsky Austin Herrera Alexander Torres Gabe Jimenez Seth Gibson Isaac Leon Adrian Knights Aaron Black Jamal Ofisa Christian Vazquez Gabriel Heredia Johnni Smith-Willis Ryan Hood Steven Brown Francisco Mondragon Oscar Galindo Nick Alcala Armani Rivera Arturo Barajas Arnulfo Torres Gustavo Pineda Trenton Blanton Alejandro Rios Eric Espinosa Clayton Elness Cody Beard Jorge Valenzuela Donovan Guiriba Ryan Wolf Jaymon Ofisa Brandon Barajas Alberto Carranza Aiden Moore Nick Jones Scott Osborn
Pos. WR/DB QB/WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB TE/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB RB/DB WR/LB RB/DB RB/DB WR/DB OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL RB/DB WR/LB WR/DB WR/DB
Yr. 11 11 12 12 11 11 11 12 12 12 11 12 12 11 12 12 11 12 11 11 12 12 11 11 11 12 12 12 11 12 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 12
Ht. 5-11 5-8 6-0 5-7 5-10 6-0 6-0 5-9 5-10 5-9 6-3 6-0 5-11 5-8 5-10 5-9 5-8 5-8 5-10 6-0 5-11 5-8 5-8 6-1 5-7 6-0 5-9 6-0 5-10 6-2 5-10 5-10 6-1 5-9 6-0 5-7 5-9 5-10 5-11 5-11 5-6 5-7 5-9 6-2 5-11
Wt. 155 155 180 126 153 160 195 125 140 165 175 180 156 140 150 175 155 170 190 180 160 165 175 165 250 235 180 175 223 252 296 270 265 154 175 175 190 168 189 165 280 155 170 150 155
REUBEN FROM PAGE 2 times on 93 carries. He grabbed 21 passes for 517 yards and seven TDs He had 562 yards on kickoff returns. Lumpkin was Central Valley’s second-leading rusher his junior year. He piled up 524 yards and six touchdowns on 72 carries. He caught 10 passes for 74 yards. Bobby Nieto (Sr.), Johnny Pittman (Sr.), Lisandro Gallardo (Sr.) and Josh Sidhu (Sr.) will contribute at receiver. Pittman, Gallardo and Sidhu totaled 58, 13 and nine yards, respectively, last season. Jonathan Barragan (Jr.) will log playing time at receiver and running back. Barragan ran for 167 yards and one TD on 22 carries and caught 6 passes for 111 yards and one score at the varsity level as a sophomore. He averaged 18.5 yards per catch and 7.6 yards per carry. Franky Ramirez (Sr.) will block and catch passes at tight end. Central Valley brings back just one starting offensive lineman from a year ago. Noah Postley (Sr.) will start at right guard for the second consecutive season. “If Reuben doesn’t put a bunch of pressure on himself, we’ll be fine,” Edwards said. “He just needs to run the system.” “I have a lot of trust in my teammates,” Rodriguez added. “They’re working just as hard as me.” Rodriguez shares a special bond with Ghiorso and Nieto. Reuben and Bobby are cousins. They reside in the same
household. Ghiorso, a close friend, lives a couple houses down from Rodriguez and Nieto. “We’re always together,” Rodriguez said. “We go to the park for extra practice.” Rodriguez played quarterback at the lower levels for the Hawks in 2013 (JV) and 2012 (frosh). “He’s not a vocal, outspoken leader,” Edwards said. “But his teammates want to play for him. They got his back. He’s smart. When you explain concepts to him, he gets a grasp of it. He’s coachable. He’s hard on himself. He’s a savvy competitor.” “Edwards is a really good coach,” Rodriguez said. “I ask him a lot of questions and he answers them. There’s a lot more things to think about playing quarterback at the varsity level. I’m going to stay humble. I know I still have a lot of stuff to work on.” Central Valley compiled a 5-5 overall record and tied for fourth place with crosstown-rival Ceres High (3-7, 2-4) in the WAC standings last fall. The Bulldogs played the role of spoiler with a 24-7 victory over the Hawks on the final day of the regular season. Ceres High prevented Central Valley from securing its second straight playoff berth. The Bulldogs also snapped a seven-year losing streak against the Hawks. “Watching that happen last year from the sidelines hurt,” Rodriguez said. “It should be a good matchup this year. I’m just looking forward to the season starting. We want to go as far as we can. But we need to focus on the first team we play, which is Atwater.”
Varsity signal caller Reuben Rodriguez played quarterback at the lower levels for the Hawks in 2013 and 2012. DALE BUTLER/The Courier
Football Preview
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
CHRIS LUBINSKY • Ceres High has a new quarterback
the 1980s. “He’s helped me with my mechanics and ability to read defenses,” Lubinsky said. “He’s putting me in a system that allows me to throw a lot during the course of a game. I feel really comfortable
B y D A L E B U TLER Staff reporter of the
Ceres (Calif.) Courier
T
here is a lot to like about Chris Lubinsky, Ceres High’s new quarterback. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound junior has a strong arm. He’s smart. He’s competitive. He’s committed. He’s liked by his teammates and coaches. He doesn’t lack confidence. “I’m excited to get the opportunity to play quarterback,” said Lubinsky, the Bulldogs’ JV signal caller the past two seasons. “My predecessor (Brad Bussard) had a solid two-year career. The goal ultimately is to get Ceres High back to a winning program. It would mean the world to me if I was the one to do that for our school.” The Bulldogs haven’t had a winning record or qualified for the playoffs since 2004. Quarterback Derrick Goblirsch led Ceres High to a 6-5 overall record, the Modesto Metro Conference title (4-1) and its second straight postseason appearance. Lubinsky will be vital to the success of Ceres High’s spread offense. “In this offense, the quarterback has to produce,” he said. “The ball is in your hand a lot. I have to make smart decisions. I have to put my team in a position to win. I have all the confidence in my abilities. I hope to make a name for myself.” Lubinsky took the majority of snaps during the Bulldogs’ passing league season this summer. Ceres High advanced to the semifinals of the Modesto Junior College tournament. Chris has been working with Bret Durossette, Ceres High’s head coach and a former standout
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‘The goal ultimately is to get Ceres High back to a winning program.’ –Bulldogs QB Lubinsky
DALE BUTLER/ The Courier
Chris Lubinsky will make his varsity debut at quarterback with Ceres High School’s football program this fall. The 6-foot-3 junior started at the JV level the past two seasons.
running anything in our playbook.” Lubinsky had a busy offseason. He attended elite skills camps at Boise State and Fresno State during the summertime. Chris led his team to a first-place finish at the Broncos’ 7-on-7 passing tournament in Idaho. “That was a really good experience,” Lubinsky said. “I got to play against some of the best athletes from throughout the United States.” Lubinsky started training at Bonsu Elite Athletics in March to improve his speed, agility and strength. He added 15 pounds to his frame. He also increased his max squat and bench press by 30 and 25 pounds, respectively. “You have to improve yourself every day,” Chris said. “You can’t sit around and expect to get results.” Ceres High has talent and depth at receiver as Marcellus Boykins, Austin Stiles, Conner Johnson, Seth Gibson, Wyatt Ogden and Austin Crain are all expected to contribute. Boykins was selected to the Western Athletic Conference First Team as a sophomore. Marcellus caught 29 passes for 464 yards and three touchdowns. Stiles totaled 347 yards and two TDs on 27 receptions. Johnson added 180 yards and one SEE CHRIS, PAGE 11
CATCHING UP WITH #5 6
Football Preview
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
•Third-year varsity player Moses Ghiorso should have another productive season with Hawks A jack of all trades on the gridiron, Moses Ghiorso had a breakout junior season with Central Valley’s varsity football team last fall. Ghiorso earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors on both offense and defense. Moses was also named WAC Special Teams Player of the Year. Ghiorso had 822 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns. He intercepted two passes. MOSES GHIORSO CENTRAL VALLEY Sr. 5-10, 165 QUESTION: This is your third season playing varsity football. You’re a leader on the team. Do you enjoy filling that role? ANSWER: It’s an honor being a captain. It’s a big role. I have to step up. I just want to do my best for my team. Q: What have you done over the past couple of months to get ready for the upcoming season? A: I’ve been putting in extra work after practice. I’m trying to get stronger and faster. Q: Have you set any individual goals for the 2015 season? A: I’m just looking forward to winning games. It’s not about me. It’s about we. It’s about the team. Q: You’re a two-way starter. If you were forced to play on just one side of the ball, what would your preference be? A: I like playing offense because you have more fun. The last four games (of the 2014 season), many quarterbacks didn’t throw my way on defense. They knew what I could do. I’m just glad that I
DALE BUTLER / The Courier
Central Valley all-purpose player Moses Ghiorso was voted Western Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year last season. Ghiorso also earned first-team, all-WAC honors for his outstanding play on both offense and defense.
play offense and defense, and return kickoffs. It doesn’t get that tiring. Q: What do you enjoy most about football? A: The feeling you get when you score is amazing. You look in the stands and people are screaming. Your teammates come up to you and tell you good job. I enjoy playing for my school and teammates. They push me to be better. Q: Central Valley has a
new quarterback in Reuben Rodriguez. How do you think he’s going to do? A: He’s really smart. He knows what he’s doing. He’s going to do a good job for us. Q: Ceres High snapped a seven-year losing streak versus Central Valley in 2014. The 24-7 upset loss prevented the Hawks from making the postseason for the second straight season. Do you have a prediction for this year’s meeting?
A: We underestimated them last year. We were already thinking playoffs. That’s our fault. Me personally, I should have stepped up and been more vocal. This year, we’re a different team. It should be a good game. Q: What would you consider a successful season? A: For us seniors, it’s our last year of high-school football. We’re more focused and dedicated. We’re working harder as a team. We have a
closer bound. We don’t want to make the same mistakes as last year. We’re trying to push ourselves to be better. Our mindset is winning WAC and making playoffs. We do have talent. I’m looking forward to having a successful season. Q: Who’s your favorite NFL player? A: Bo Jackson. I look up to him because I’m a Raiders fan. I liked how he ran the ball. He was fast and
strong. He was a super hero. I also like Reggie Bush. He’s a shifty guy like me. He has speed. He has great vision and his college number was 5. Q: Who’s going to win the Super Bowl? A: I’m a Raiders fan. I’m hoping they do. But I think the Seahawks will win it. They’ve been there before. They have a great team. They have the best running back in the NFL and a good quarterback. Their defense is No. 1 in the NFL. Q: What’s your favorite movie and why? A: I like Friday Night Lights because I’m a football guy. Q: If you could meet any pro athlete or celebrity, who would it be? A: Drake because every Friday night I play his music to get me into the zone. Q: Web site you check every day? A: I look at kicksonfire. com because I like shoes. I have a nice collection. I have Jordan 1s, 2s, 7s and 12s. Q: Any fears/phobias? A: I’m afraid of heights. I don’t like snakes, either. Q: Food you refuse to eat? A: I don’t like cheese at all. Q: Favorite food to eat? A: I’m Italian. I like spaghetti. Q: Hobbies? A: I collect football, baseball and basketball cards. Q: What would your dream job be? A: Playing in the NFL. Q: College plans? A: I want to continue to play football. That’s my main goal. I also want to be a cop. I’m going to study law enforcement and criminal justice.
Football Preview
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
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CATCHING UP WITH #44 •Second-year varsity running back Johnni Smith-Willis gives Bulldogs balance on offense Johnni Smith-Willis CERES HIGH Sr. 5-8, 165 Johnni Smith-Willis didn’t perform like a varsity newcomer with Ceres High School’s football program last fall. Smith-Willis rushed for 484 yards and five touchdowns in six league games his junior year. Johnni was named to the Western Athletic Conference Second Team for his outstanding play. QUESTION: This is your second season playing varsity football. You’re going to fill a key role on the team once again. Do you feel any added pressure to perform at a high level? ANSWER: I don’t feel any pressure at all. This year, I’m more focused. I’m more comfortable. I gained confidence last season. Getting the ball, you can’t be nervous. Everybody is counting on you to get a touchdown or some yards. I’m looking forward to another great season. But I know I need to work on some things to improve my skills. Q: What have you done over the past couple of months to get ready for the upcoming season? A: I’ve been working hard in the weight room, going over plays, looking at video clips from last year to see what I messed up on and bonding with my teammates. Hopefully, all the summer stuff pays off. I have high hopes for this year’s team. Q: Have you set any individual goals for the 2015 season? A: Winning as a team is what’s important. Hopefully, we can improve our record from last year. Everyone has to be on the same page. Q: What do you enjoy most about football? A: Getting to know my teammates and coaches, and going out there as a family on Friday nights to compete. We always have fans to support us during the games, which is amazing. Being a part of the Ceres High School football team, I love it. Q: Ceres High has a new quarterback in Chris Lubinsky. How do you think he’s going to do this year? A: It’s going to be great to have him on the team and be able to work with him one last time. We were teammates before when I was a sophomore and he was a freshman. He’s smart. He treats everybody with respect. He knows what he’s doing. He’s going to do really well.
Running back Johnni Smith-Willis garnered secondteam Western Athletic Conference accolades during his junior campaign with the Bulldogs. Smith-Willis gained 484 yards and scored five touchdowns in six league games. DALE BUTLER / The Courier
Q: Ceres High snapped a seven-year losing streak versus Central Valley in 2014. The 24-7 upset win prevented the Hawks from making the playoffs for the second straight season. You rushed for 129 yards and one touchdown on 31 carries. What do you remember most from the 2014 showdown between the two teams? A: We had a great game last year. What kept me going were my teammates and fans, and the game itself. Everybody really wanted to beat Central Valley. It was great seeing how everyone got really excited and happy after we won. It was a wonderful thing to watch. I’m hoping we have the same mindset for this year’s game. It’s going to be really competitive. Q: Do you have a favorite NFL team? A: I was born a Steelers fan. I like the way
they play. Even if they’re losing, they’ll play their hardest. Q: Who’s your favorite NFL player? A: Le’Veon Bell (Steelers running back). He’s fast and aggressive. He has a great bond with his offensive linemen. He does what he can to help his team be the best. Q: Who’s going to win the Super Bowl? A: Even though I don’t know if it’s going to happen, I’m hoping the Steelers do this year. Q: What’s your favorite movie and why? A: Undefeated. It’s a football documentary. Q: If you could meet any pro athlete or celebrity, who would it be? A: Le’Veon Bell. Q: Web site you check every day? A: Hudl.com. I look at football video
clips. Q: Any fears/phobias? A: Spiders. Q: Food you refuse to eat? A: I’m not a big sushi fan. Q: Favorite food to eat? A: Enchiladas. Q: Favorite TV show? A: Naruto. I can relate to a lot of things in that. Q: Hobbies? A: I like to cook and sing. Q: What would your dream job be? A: Restaurant owner. Q: College plans? A: I want to play football. I don’t know what other things are available.
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Football Preview
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2015
•Ceres High’s Marcellus Boykins earned first-team all-WAC honors during his sophomore year B y D A L E B U TLER Staff reporter of the
Ceres (Calif.) Courier
1. Moses Ghiorso had a breakout season with Central Valley’s varsity football team last fall. Ghiorso earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors on both offense and defense his junior year. He was voted WAC Special Teams Player of the Year as well. He had 2,013 all-purpose yards in 10 games. Ghiorso rushed for 735 yards and 13 touchdowns on 93 carries. He hauled in 21 passes for 517 yards and seven TDs. He totaled 562 yards on 17 kickoff returns. Moses had six interceptions, returning one for a score, recorded five pass deflections and collected 13 tackles. 2. Varsity newcomer Johnni Smith-Willis gave Ceres High’s offense a big boost in 2014. The Bulldogs’ featured running back rumbled for 825 yards and nine touchdowns with no fumbles on 132 carries. Smith-Willis averaged 6.3 yards per attempt. Johnni rushed for a career-high 268 yards and three TDs in Ceres High’s 35-24 win over Johansen in nonleague play. Smith-Willis carried the ball 31 times for 129 yards and one TD during the Bulldogs’ 24-7 upset victory of the crosstown-rival Hawks. Johnni garnered secondteam all-Western Athletic Conference recognition. 3. Six-foot-three-inch junior Chris Lubinsky will make his varsity debut at quarterback with the Bulldogs. Lubinsky started at JV level the past two seasons. He had a 1-1 record versus crosstown-rival Central Valley. Chris attended camps at Boise State and Fresno State during the summertime. Tapped to direct Ceres High’s spread offense, Lubinsky has some big shoes to fill. Predecessor Brad Bussard passed for 4,394 yards and 37 touchdowns during his two-year career. Bussard totaled 2,853 yards
and 25 TDs his junior year. He had three 400-yard passing games. He tallied a program-record 437 yards and six TDs in his debut against Modesto High. 4. Marcellus Boykins starred at receiver at the varsity level his sophomore year. Boykins caught 29 passes for 464 yards and three touchdowns. Marcellus was selected to the Western Athletic Conference First Team. He ranked third in the WAC in receiving yards (364) and receptions (23), and fifth in TDs (2). Boykins and fellow pass catchers Austin Stiles, Seth Gibson and Conner Johnson will give first-year varsity quarterback Chris Lubinsky a solid group of receivers to work with. 5. Reuben Rodriguez’s junior campaign came to an abrupt end when he broke his left ankle in Central Valley’s 47-0 loss to Pacheco. A safety on defense, Rodriguez totaled eight tackles in three games. Reuben will fill a major role on offense this year. The southpaw will start at quarterback. Rodriguez played QB at the JV (2013) and frosh (2012) levels. Rodriguez attended the Second Annual Nate Costa Football Camp during the summertime. Costa, former quarterback for Hilmar High and University of Oregon, offered a three-day clinic in his hometown for 30 signal callers. 6. Jamarea Lumpkin was Central Valley’s second-leading rusher his junior year. Lumpkin piled up 524 yards and six touchdowns on 72 carries. He averaged 7.3 yards per touch. Jamarea caught 10 passes for 74 yards. Lumpkin registered 17 tackles and force two fumbles on defense. Ja’Quan Gardner, Jamarea’s older brother, broke the Stanislaus District’s career and single-season rushing records in 2013. Gardner totaled 6,014 yards and 67 TDs in 31 games. He rushed for SEE TALENT, PAGE 11
DALE BUTLER / The Courier
Marcellus Boykins had a memorable first season with Ceres High’s varsity football team last fall. Boykins caught 29 passes for 464 yards and three touchdowns while starring at receiver as a sophomore. Marcellus was named to the Western Athletic Conference First Team. Boykins will catch passes from new quarterback Chris Lubinsky this season.
Football Preview
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
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Rivals to meet for 10th time •CHS snapped seven-year losing streak versus CV last fall with 24-7 victory B y DALE B U TLER Staff reporter of the
Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Ceres High School’s campus was a buzz following its varsity football team’s 24-7 upset of crosstown-rival Central Valley last fall. The Bulldogs played the role of spoiler with a 24-7 victory. The win eliminated the Hawks from playoff consideration the final day of the regular season. More importantly, Ceres High ended a seven-year losing streak versus Central Valley. “The loss isn’t something I’ve dwelled upon,” Hawks head coach Scott Edwards said. “Our kids understand why it happened. They weren’t thinking about Ceres High. They were talking playoffs. We were immature during our preparation for that week. You have to respect every opponent.” Ceres High limited Central Valley to 172 yards of total offense and forced seven turnovers. The Bulldogs racked up 354 yards on offense. Brad Bussard completed 12 of 22 passes for 186 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while making his final start at quarterback for Ceres High. Fellow senior Juan Anderson had a 57-yard touchdown reception. He also booted a 20-yard field goal and converted all three of his point-after kicks. Marcellus Boykins hauled in four passes for 35 yards and one TD. Austin Stiles totaled 89 yards on six catches. Johnni Smith-Willis rumbled for 129 yards and one touchdown on 31 carries. Jamarea Lumpkin gained a team-high 63 yards on four carries in defeat. Moses Ghiorso ran for 44 yards on eight carries. Senior Alex Centeno and Gerardo Solorzano both struggled while logging playing time at quarterback. Centeno completed 2 of 8 passes for 34 yards with one touchdown and two picks. Solorzano finished 1 of 2 for 3 yards with one interception. Reuben Rodriguez, Central Valley’s starting quarterback this year, couldn’t contribute last season. Rodriguez suffered a season-ending ankle injury while playing defensive back against Pacheco five weeks earlier. “Watching that happen last year from the
DALE BUTLER / The Courier
The members of Ceres High’s football team celebrate following last season’s 24-7 win against crosstown-rival Central Valley.
sidelines hurt,” Rodriguez said. Ceres High had ample chances to break the game open in the first half. The Hawks were fortunate to trail by just seven points, 14-7, at the break. The Bulldogs lost a fumble at Central Valley’s 11-yard line. Ceres High missed a 32-yard field goal. The Bulldogs also turned the ball over on downs two other times in Hawk territory. Central Valley had a pair of turnovers. The Hawks lost four fumbles. Ceres High outscored Central Valley 10-0 in the second half.
“We underestimated them last year,” Ghiorso said. “We were already thinking playoffs. That’s our fault. Me personally, I should have stepped up and been more vocal. This year, we’re a different team. It should be a good game.” “We had a great game last year,” SmithWillis said. “What kept me going were my teammates and fans, and the game itself. Everybody really wanted to beat Central Valley. It was great seeing how everyone got really excited and happy after we won. It was a wonderful thing to watch. I’m hoping we have the same mindset for this year’s game.
It’s going to be really competitive.” Central Valley (5-5) and Ceres High (3-7) tied for fourth place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with identical 2-4 marks last year. The Bulldogs improved their all-time record versus the Hawks to 2-7. Central Valley paid the ultimate price for underestimating Ceres High. The Ceres Classic perpetual trophy, awarded to the winner of the crosstown showdown, has been in Ceres High’s possession for the past year. SEE CONTEST, PAGE 11
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Football Preview
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
ON THE COVER
2015 CV Roster
DALE BUTLER/the Courier
The four athletes pictured on the cover are Central Valley’s Jamarea Lumpkin and Moses Ghiorso, and Ceres High School’s Marcellus Boykins and Johnni Smith-Willis.
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Name Reuben Rodriguez Zab Pineda Robert Nieto Moses Ghiroso Jonny Velasquez Josh Sidhu Ryan Hendrix Chase Winchester Lisandro Gallardo Matthew Simon Cory Cantaloube Willie Soriano Jose Jimenez Estevan Barragan Johnny Pittman Jonathan Barragan Jose Castillo Andrew Rollins Jamarea Lumpkin Brad Oliver Gabriel Quezada Angel Rico Adrian Barriga Adbul Talha Derek Weis Alex Alvarado Isaac Gudino Emani Anitelea Kenneth Chhoeum Andrew Marquez Ben Brooks Franky Ramirez Carlos Villavicencio Raquesh Hernandez Carlos Fregoso Noah Postley Adrian Badillo Zeph Avila Josh Barrita Justin Ramsdell Cipriano Salazar Roman Ortiz Carlos Lopez Mario Guevara Erik Mejia David Serrano David Lezama
Pos. QB DB/K WR/DB RB/DB DB WR WR/K DB WR/DB DB DB QB/DB DB RB/DB WR RB/DB DB DB RB/DB DB TE/LB RB/LB WR/DB DB DB DL LB LB DL DL RB/LB TE/DL DL OL DL OL/DL LB OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL/DL DL OL/DL
Yr. 12 12 12 12 11 12 11 11 12 12 11 11 12 10 12 11 12 12 12 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 12 12 12 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 10 11
Ht. 6-0 5-7 6-0 5-10 5-8 5-11 5-10 6-0 5-11 5-11 5-10 5-11 5-8 5-7 5-9 5-8 5-8 6-0 5-11 5-10 6-1 5-9 5-10 5-9 5-11 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-0 5-11 5-9 6-1 5-11 6-3 6-1 5-11 6-1 6-3 6-0 6-2 5-11 5-10 6-3 5-10 6-0 6-2 5-11
Wt. 180 140 175 165 145 170 145 175 170 155 155 170 150 150 150 150 160 175 185 150 230 195 175 145 165 180 180 180 200 200 200 235 190 220 190 245 210 235 185 270 255 220 270 260 235 250 270
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Football Preview
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
CHRIS
FROM PAGE 5
score on 14 catches. Ogden and Crain suited up for the JV Bulldogs in 2014. “I feel very lucky to have the offense we do,” Lubinsky said. “We have a lot of weapons. I trust all of my receivers. I believe we can create some serious problems for some teams.” Lubinsky also talked about the importance of having balance on offense. Senior running back Johnni Smith-Willis earned second-team WAC honors a season ago. Willis rushed for 825 yards and nine touchdowns on 132 carries. “You need to have balance to have a great team,” Lubinsky said. “We have a good running back in Johnni. He’s extremely quick.
He’s a tough runner. He’s always capable of making a big play for us. He has the potential to do even better this year.” Ceres High’s revamped offensive line will feature four new starters, excluding varsity returner Ryan Wolf. Wolf logged playing time at center his junior year. “I have all the confidence in the world they’ll be able to protect me,” Lubinsky said. Lubinsky will make his varsity debut against Modesto High on Aug. 28 at Johansen High School. “I’m extremely excited,” he said. “I’ll probably be a little nervous. I’ll try to stay calm, complete a couple passes and establish some confidence. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to produce. I have a lot of weapons around me.” Chris started at the JV level the past two seasons. He tossed for five TD passes as Ceres High
won one of its two games versus Central Valley. The Bulldogs had a combined record of 4-16 with Lubinsky at the helm. Lubinsky will try to help Ceres High secure its second straight win over Central Valley in varsity football. The Bulldogs upset the Hawks, 24-7, last year. “It’s always a huge game,” Chris said. “I expect both of us to have good teams. Both teams will be equally motivated to get that trophy back to their respective schools.” Tapped to direct Ceres High’s offense, Lubinsky has some big shoes to fill. Bussard passed for 4,394 yards and 37 touchdowns during his twoyear career. Bussard totaled 2,853 yards and 25 TDs his junior year. He had three 400-yard passing games. He tallied a program-record 437 yards and six TDs in his debut against
Modesto High. Lubinsky will have a chance to join elite company as one of Ceres High’s all-time greatest quarterbacks. Rex Holm (class of 1969) ranked among the top 10 quarterbacks in Northern California while guiding Ceres High to a perfect 10-0 record and the Mountain Valley League crown (4-0) in 1968. He passed for 21 touchdowns, helping the Bulldogs end a 17-year championship drought. Donnie Donaldson (class of 1989) propelled Ceres High to an appearance in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-II section championship game in 1988. Donaldson threw for 254 yards and scored once on the ground as the Bulldogs suffered a heart-breaking 14-12 loss to Los Banos. Ceres High (8-4, 6-2) also finished second behind Sonora in the Valley Oak
League. Ceres High compiled a 9-4 record, captured the Golden Valley League title (5-1) and lost 44-3 to El Camino in the Division-II section finals with Durossette (class of 1986) directing the offense in 1985. Derrick Goblirsch (class of 2005) led the Bulldogs to the Modesto Metro Conference title his senior year and back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berths. Goblirsch passed for 3,732 yards and 33 TDs. “I want to be remembered as one of the key contributors that turned around Ceres High School’s football program,” Lubinsky said. “I’m ready for the challenge. It will be an exciting season. We’ll put up a fight in every game. I expect us to have success.”
TALENT
FROM PAGE 8
2,467 yards and 27 scores his senior year. Ja’Quan earned a fullride scholarship to Humboldt State. Lumpkin will also log playing time at strong safety this season. 7. A role player on the gridiron with Ceres High a season ago, senior Seth Gibson will start on both offense and defense this year. He’ll catch passes from Chris Lubinsky while playing slot receiver. Gibson will defend opposing receivers at cornerback. Seth gained 195 yards and scored two touchdowns on 18 carries his junior year. He caught three passes for 18 yards and one TD. Gibson returned a kickoff 84 yards for a score. He totaled three tackles. Seth was a key member of the Bulldogs’ track and field team last spring. Gibson advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships in the 110 hurdles. He completed the event in a personal-best time on his way to a third-place finish at the Division IV-V meet. 8. Central Valley returns its thirdleading tackler from a year ago in senior linebacker Adrian Badillo. Badillo racked up 40 tackles and recovered one fumble in nine games. He averaged 4.4 tackles per game. Adrian had eight tackles in a 33-0 win over Franklin of Stockton. A standout wrestler this past winter, Badillo placed sixth at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Championships and third at the Western
Linebacker Adrian Badillo drops back in coverage during a 7-on-7 passing scrimmage. Badillo was the Hawks’ third-leading tackler last year. DALE BUTLER / The Courier
Athletic Conference Finals in the 195-pound division. 9. Ceres High returns just one offensive lineman with experience as Caleb McDade, Ramon Coral, Luis Calderon, Blake Tobler and Adrian Torres were all lost to graduation. Second-year varsity player Ryan Wolf will start at center. Wolf will pass protect for new quarterback Chris Lubinsky and run block for standout tailback Johnni SmithWillis. 10. Hawk senior Franky Ramirez will contribute at tight end and defensive end this year. Ramirez had 22 tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry during his first season with Central Valley. Franky played in eight games. He joined the
Hawks’ football team after moving from Arizona to California. 11. Central Valley brings back just one starting offensive lineman from a year ago. Senior Noah Postley will start at right guard for the second consecutive season. He’ll provide pass protection for first-year quarterback Reuben Rodriguez and run blocking for tailbacks Moses Ghiorso and Jamarea Lumpkin. 12. One of two sophomores on Ceres High’s varsity squad last year, Conner Johnson caught 14 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown in 10 games. He’ll be targeted more during his junior campaign with the Bulldogs. Johnson could also see playing time at linebacker on defense.
Ceres High and Central Valley will face off for the 10th time when they meet at Bulldog Stadium on Nov. 6. The Ceres Classic perpetual trophy has been in Ceres High’s posession for the past year. The Hawks won the previous seven contests. DALE BUTLER/ The Courier
CONTEST FROM PAGE 9 Central Valley had the coveted piece of hardware on its campus from 2007-13. The 10th installment of the rivalry game will be staged at Bulldog Stadium on Nov. 6. Kickoff slated for 7 p.m. “It’s always a huge game,” said Ceres High junior quarter-
back Chris Lubinsky, who had a 1-1 record as a starter against Central Valley at the junior-varsity level. “I expect both of us to have good teams. Both teams will be equally motivated to get that trophy back to their respective schools.” “We know that we messed up,” Ghiorso said. “We had a bad mindset going into that game. We’ll know what to do this year.”
Football Preview
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Downtown
Hey Mom & Dad
Popcorn & Ice Cream From Noon to 5:00 at Central Park
bring your scary little monsters to the downtown trick or treat event. It’s safe and fun for everyone!
When: Halloween, Oct. 31st Time: 12pm to 5pm Starting point: Central Park (by the Chamber of Commerce) Pick up your list of participating merchants at Central Park
Sponsored by Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association and Turlock Journal
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