Panthers in Valley state of mind
Editor’s Note: This is the first of five stories previewing area high school football teams — up next will be Monache.
If there’s anything anyone needs to know when watching Porterville High School football this season,season it’s the Panthers are coming for a Central Section title.
The culture created under third-year head coach Michael Machado relies on a simple philosophy taught as soon as the clock strikes midnight on the first day of practice: be the first one on the field and the last one off.
“My background has always been to play for a section title and so regardless of what year I’m in or where I’m at, the goal is to play on that Friday night after Thanksgiving which would be the Section title game,” Machado said.
Last season, that’s where the Panthers could’ve been.
They earned the top seed and an opening round bye in Division IV after going 8-2 but were bounced from the playoffs in a 20-7 quarterfinal loss to No. 8 Wasco (9-4).
And while some teams would say that’s all in the past or they’re a different team now, Porterville hasn’t let the loss completely go.
“It left a bitter taste in our mouth,” senior lineman Larry Duran Jr. said. “Pushed us to work harder this offseason. Coach Machado got us doing a lot, working hard.”
The offseason was good to the Panthers and even better for the team is they return 14 starters including a majority of both their offensive and defensive lines, as well as the young star who’s quarterback Hector Nava Jr.
Last season Nava Jr. burst onto the scene throwing for 429 yards and five touchdowns in Porterville’s season-opening upset of Div. II Dinuba (9-3). The comeback victory saw Nava Jr. throw two touchdowns in the final minute and set the stage for the Panthers best season since they went 9-3 in 2013.
Having the junior back is important for the Panthers not only because he leads the offense with confidence and can throw — 23 touchdowns on 2,756 yards with only 12 interceptions — but because his ability to move outside of the pocket means there’s always options when the ball is in his hands.
“Last year we did pretty good and myself, I had a pretty good year as well,” Nava Jr. said. “So this year, going into it I have to try doing the same thing if not better.”
On the ground, Nava Jr. also stacked up a team-high 476 rushing yards, four touchdowns and even rushed for 152 yards in Porterville’s 51-40 win over Monache, but it’s sophomore Isaiah Ellis who all eyes will be on in the backfield.
Ellis was another young player who immediately shined with 147 yards and a touchdown in a 28-13 win over Golden West in his first game. He continues to be an important part of the Panthers offense and will get assistance from senior tailbacks Jayson Thao and Javier Benevidez.
“We have guys that can play multiple spots,” Machado said. “We’re just making sure that we get as much speed and strength and talent on the field that we can initially and those guys will rotate through.”
Benevidez and senior Jovanie Cardenas, will be part of a receiving core that lost its top three targets. In Benevidez the team gets experience while Cardenas provides
a deep threat Machado said the team was lacking a little last year.
“Overall skills wise, we’re probably a little faster at every position and we’re definitely a little bit stronger at every position,” Machado said. “So hopefully this year we can get some of those explosive plays that we weren’t necessarily getting last year.”
With all seven of the defensive front returning, the biggest area of replacement for the Panthers was in their secondary as Cardenas is the only returning safety. Senior Danny Castaneda didn’t play last season but is back and likely to start at cornerback.
The rest of the defense should be solid for Porterville. The entire line is made up of returners and senior linebackers, Tristan Soliz and Isaak Guzman, along with Duran Jr.; are all three-year starters.
“We’ve all got a great bond and we’ll do our thing,” Duran Jr. said about his line.
The season kicks off for Porterville Friday on the road against Dinuba who return several players that surely haven’t forgotten about last season’s loss.
“We’re pretty familiar with them,” Machado said. “Over the last three years, the first year I was here it was a 56-0 loss. Last year it was coming from behind. So this year we’re hoping to be a little bit more competitive and do our best to make that game a competitive ball game in favor of us.”
On paper, the Panthers look like they have everything they need to be eating light on Thanksgiving in order to prepare for the Valley championship game. But of course, the Panthers still have a lot to accomplish on the field over the next two and a half months to get there.
“We need to make sure we take care of business obviously for the first 10 weeks but there are no other goals,” Machado said. “Anything less than a section title is a failure for us as far as a football program.”