Spartans host Cardinals in Valley semis
The undefeated Spartans of Strathmore are one win away from returning to the CIF Central Section Division VI championship game and defending their Valley title after defeating eighthseeded Orange Cove (3-8, 2-1 East Sierra League) 24-6 last Thursday. Now, the only team standing in top-seeded Strathmore’s way is fifthseeded Orosi, who the Spartans host Friday at 7 p.m. in the Div. VI semifinals.
Since the 29-28 loss to Vallejo’s St. Patrick-st. Vincent (13-3) that ended Strathmore’s 14-game win streak and stole the CIF State Div. VI-A Championship from under the Spartans nose, the team has prepared for months to get back to the state championships. To do so, they must first win Friday’s game as well as the Valley final. “We made plans for this football season right after — we had 6 seconds left and lost the state championship and that never happened in Strathmore football history,” SHS head coach Jeromy Blackwell said. “And so today is yesterday’s tomorrow. If waking up on Sunday morning 47 weeks ago saying, ‘If we get one more chance at that’. Well here’s your chance. We talk about it, let’s make it happen. If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.”
Fifth-seeded Orosi returns to Spartan Stadium nine weeks after losing 35-13 to top-seeded Strathmore in a week four game that saw Strathmore star running back Joseph Garcia explode for 286 yards and four touchdowns, on 12 carries — his biggest night of the season.
Among those four touchdowns was a 94-yard score, the longest rushing touchdown by a Spartan this season. In total, Garcia has rushed for 1,770 yards and 31 touchdowns on 165 carries. He’s also rushed for 100 or more yards in all 11 games.
But on Friday, the back-toback East Sequoia League champion Spartans are going to need Garcia on defense just as much as they need him on offense. The senior doubles as a strong safety and will be used to help contain OHS quarterback Gary Huerta and his brother, running back Jerry.
In Orosi’s 21-14 win over fourth- seeded Granite Hills (8-3, 3-2 ESL), Jerry proved to be a problem for the Grizzlies. He rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns, including a 42- yard touchdown that gave the East Sierra League champion Cardinals the lead early in the fourth quarter. Jerry also eclipsed Garcia as the No. 2 running back in the Central Section with a total of 2,002 yards and 28 yards.
“Those Huerta brothers are really good football players,” Blackwell said. “If we can contain [ them], we’re going to win a football game. But talking about it and doing it is a different story.”
To contain the Huerta brothers and keep them inside, the Spartans are going to use Garcia and senior defensive end Andres Lara to keep them inside. Senior defensive tackles Shaylan Singh, Lucas Raya; sophomore lineman Robert Alvarez, and linebacker seniors Noah Alcantar and Damian Valencia will “bring the pressure from the inside and keep it all corralled,” according to Blackwell.
“There’s definitely energy in the air, but there’s a little bit more focus on the details,” Blackwell said. “We talk to them all the time about, ‘You got to have enough care. You have to pay attention to the details of your assignment and
execute the details of your assignment with great effort. I think there’s a little more extra there and I think the coaching staff got a little extra focused cause it’s go time. We talk about ‘1-0 football’ all the time and because here we are, if we don’t pay attention to detail on this particular week then there is no tomorrow.”
In their last meeting the Spartans were able to sack Gary Huerta three times and cause a fumble that they recovered. Complete passing stats were not available for Gary on Maxpreps.com.
Strathmore averages around five touchdowns a game and has outscored opponents 523-112. Their offense is solid all-around, especially in their run game where the talented Alonso Acevedo (797 yards, 13 touchdowns) and Fabian Alcantar ( 505 yards, four touchdowns) do a great job of backing up Garcia.
Quarterback Nick Salas is interceptionfree over his last five games and has completed 59-of-102 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Spartans have the ability to stretch the field with wide receiver Amando Rodriguez (397 yards, five touchdowns) and tight end Lara ( 260, three touchdowns).
Both Strathmore’s Valencia and Jadon Guire, who sat out last week, are set to play while record- setting kicker Osvaldo Ibarra remains out for at least one more week with a knee injury. Enrique Gomez will continue to kick in Ibarra’s place.