HILMAR — On Friday night, Hilmar High football’s impressive streak of slaying bigger, stronger and faster teams was halted.
It was a long night for the Yellowjackets, who not only suffered a 40-12 loss to Division I’s Enochs High but also endured a bit of a scare. Hilmar junior quarterback went down awkwardly after a long dash, sending him to the ground in pain. He stayed there, for a while.
But it didn’t look that serious after he was tended to by his coaches, evident by the fact that he waved to his home crowd at the Hilmar High football field. It could have been worse on a night that the Yellowjackets allowed quite a showcase from Enochs quarterback Christian Kahler, who finished with four touchdown passes to four different targets and 298 yards on 13-for-17 passing.
By halftime, Enochs (2-1) was up 33-6.
Kahler wasn’t the only Eagle who had a showcase against the Yellowjackets. Running back Herbert Whitehurst was relentless on the ground and rushed for two scores and 85 yards, while he also caught a 62-yard TD from Kahler. The quarterback’s other targets were Kyle Quevedo, AJ Luna and Damian Villaicienco, with Luna’s score going for 58 yards.
On this night, the Yellowjackets (2-1) were humbled. Hilmar began the season two weeks ago by topping Beyer High, the program’s first win over a D-I school during the modern era. And just last week, the Yellowjackets overcame a 20-point deficit to beat Ceres High, also a larger program.
This preseason schedule is considered one of the toughest the Yellowjackets have ever had in school history.
Next up is Buhach Colony, Hilmar’s third D-I opponent before the Yellowjackets reunite with Trans-Valley League foes.
Buhach Colony edged the Eagles 20-18 just a week earlier.
On Friday night, the Yellowjackets had two scores. The first one came with 15 seconds left in the first half, when Olson found Trent Goiburn for a 25-yarder, cutting the Eagles’ lead to 33-6. The second and final Hilmar score came when Issac Diaz ran in from 10 yards out.
This was after Olson (9-for-18 for 74 yards) went down early in the fourth quarter. He broke free for a 40-yard dash before being pulled down toward the right sideline by Enochs defenders.
But again he waved to the crowd, signaling that he was fine before being carried off the field on a stretcher.
To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.