Hornets no match for Caimans
CALIPATRIA — With five sophomores making up their offensive line, the Calipatria High School football team is the definition of a young squad.
Though led by senior talent such as running back Nate Banuelos and quarterback Julian Medina, the young Hornets team was unable to compete against Classical Academy High School on Friday night at Veterans’ Field.
The team’s tough 43-6 loss against the Caimans was a result of the usual mistakes a young team makes, explained Calipatria’s head coach Mike Swearingen.
“We’re young and we’re making young mistakes. It’s something we’ve just got to work on, we’ve got to build and we’ve got to correct,” expressed Swearingen, who also had a difficult time leading the Hornets last season against Classical Academy, losing 31-8.
The Hornets defense began the game with an admirable performance, holding the scoreboard numberless until the two minute mark when the Caimans would score off a touchdown run, giving them a 7-0 lead.
Despite strong performances from junior defensive back Ismael Lopez and senior lineman Gabe Chabolla, Calipatria’s defense was unable to stop Classical Academy’s first quarter lead from continuing the rest of the game.
Lopez, Chabolla and the Hornet’s defense couldn’t seem to compete with Caimans’ run game, which accounted for all of their touchdowns.
A 60-yard touchdown run at the start of the second quarter boosted Classical Academy’s lead, 13-0.
Followed was a 35yard touchdown run at about the 3 minute and 30 second mark and 15yard touchdown run at the thirty second mark, which gave them a 28-0 lead by the end of the second quarter.
The Caimans would solidify their lead at the 11-minute mark of the third quarter with a 20yard touchdown run, giving them a score of 36-0.
Regardless of the score, Calipatria had something to cheer on as Banuelos attempted a run up the middle, bounced out and found a clear path on the left side of the field for a 15-yard touchdown run at about the five minute mark of the third quarter.
A two-point conversion run from Calipatria’s Gus Rocha was attempted after, though fell short just a few yards away, resulting in a 36-6 score.
The Caimans would score once again from a 25-yard touchdown run at the four minute mark. This increased their lead to 43-6 and essentially ended the game at the end of the third quarter.
While the Hornets had a strong 44-19 win against Escondido Charter High School to open their season, a tough loss in their following game against Maratha Christina High School along with Friday’s game has put them on an undesirable two-game losing streak — though Swearingen sees his team with optimistic eyes.
“We’ve faced two very excellent football teams in a row, and the mistakes we’re making are young mistakes. We’re extremely young. It’s a learning process for these youngsters. We’ll suck it up, come back and we’ll get better,” remarked the head coach.
The Hornets, 1-2, are set to face the Calexico High School Bulldogs, 0-2, at 7 p.m. Friday in Calexico.