CERES — Pitman High head coach Eric Reza took full responsibility for his team's lackluster 27-0 loss to Central Valley in the opening game of the 2024 football season.
“I’ve got to be better,” said Reza, whose team faces Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) and two-time defending Sac-Joaquin Section champion Hughson over the next two weeks. “I’ve got to get a better game plan in, and I’ve got to coach better.”
The Hawks dominated in all three phases of the game, rolling up 257 yards of total offense, while their defense held the Pride to 91 yards combined yards. And on special teams, CV blocked a punt that led to a score.
“I’m disappointed,” said Reza. “Very disappointed. Not disappointed in the kids, but the result. We came in here sky high and got punched in the mouth.”
Pitman forced the Hawks to turn the ball over on downs to start the game, and took possession on the CV 46. Four plays later, the Pride faced a second-and-7 from the 28. But Hawks’ safety Cesar Pimentel picked off the pass, thwarting Pitman’s best scoring opportunity of the contest.
Though the first quarter ended with neither team scoring, the Hawks had the momentum heading into the second quarter, and cashed in when Nick Dominguez hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Dominic Delatorre to cap a seven-play, 85-yard drive with 6:32 remaining in the half.
Just about three minutes later, Delatorre again found Dominguez, this time on a 30-yard strike that gave CV a 13-0 advantage.
A wide-open Dominguez had dropped the pass on the game’s first possession that caused the Hawks to give up the ball on downs.
“I felt like I let down some of my teammates,” said Dominguez, a converted offensive lineman who caught the first two TDs of his career. “I know they’ve got me, but I had to make it up to them.”
Dominguez’s second score was set up by the blocked punt.
With Pitman third-and-32 from its own 40, the Pride punted, but senior defensive lineman Andrue Olivas was flagged for running into the kicker. Pitman re-kicked from its 45, but this time Olivas was able to smother the kicker and recover the loose ball on the 30.
“When I got the penalty, they weren’t guarding me and I was full-go,” said Olivas. “I should’ve had the block on that one, but I went straight up, and got the flag. My coach told me dive at the ball, so I dove. And I got it.”
Hawks head coach Derrick Goblirsch was pleased with his team’s all-around performance.
“It took us a little while to get going offensively, but everything else was going right from the beginning,” said Goblirsch, who’s squad faces on Hughson Friday at home. “It was fun to watch.”
Central Valley made it 20-0 before halftime when Delatorre hooked up with Caden Mendonca on a 9-yard TD pass with :20 seconds left to play.
The Hawks’ final score of the night came on their first possession of the third quarter when Andre Flores broke free and sprinted 41 yards into the end zone, making it 27-0 with 9:50 showing on the clock.
Central Valley ran the ball 30 times for 135 yards, and completed 10 of 19 passes for 122 yards. Pitman ran 22 times for 44 yards, with one fumble, and completed 8 of 24 passes for 51 yards, with two interceptions.
