Hilmar High, the second-seeded team in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 playoffs, delivered a solid all-around performance Friday night in a 41-13 thumping over No. 7 Rio Linda at McSweeney Field.
With the victory, the Yellowjackets (7-4) advance to the semifinal round where they’ll host No. 3 Sutter (10-1), a 65-14 winner over Rosemont (Sacramento) in its opener.
The win was also the 199th in the career of head coach Frank Marques, who will retire once the season ends. He now has a career mark of 199-74 (.729). Perhaps even more impressive, Marques is now 32-16 (.667) in the playoffs, when every opponent is, well, a playoff team.
“They’re a really good football team,” said Marques. “We were really concerned about them; they’re really well coached. We were expecting a battle, but a lot of breaks went our way. I think that made the game a little more lopsided."
Things didn’t start so well for the Yellowjackets on Friday.
After going three-and-out to start the game, Joseph Corey burst through the middle for an 87-yard touchdown run on Rio Linda’s first play from scrimmage. That would be about the last highlight for the Knights (5-6) until the final minute of the contest.
Hilmar countered on its next possession, getting a 5-yard TD run from sophomore Adam Branco, but a missed PAT left Rio Linda in front, 7-6.
Branco, who rushed for 90 yards on 11 carries, scored his second touchdown on the Yellowjackets’ next possession, this time from 4 yards out.
The Knights marched into Hilmar’s red zone on their next possession, but the drive flamed out when Nathan Ayala picked off quarterback Louis Means at the 10 and returned the ball 25 yards to the 35.
Branco dominated the ensuing five-play drive, breaking free for gains of 37, 5, and 10 yards before scoring on a 3-yards burst into the end zone to make it 20-7 with 6:23 to play in the first half.
“I think we’re playing well,” said Branco. “I feel amazing right now. I feel good. Fast and strong.”
Rio Linda turned the ball over downs and Hilmar capitalized on Mattheu Brum’s 7-yard TD run with 1:43 to play.
The Knights’ next drive lasted just 30 seconds before they punted, giving the Yellowjackets possession on their 23.
Lucas Belo sped around the left end and broke free for a 77-yard touchdown to make it 34-7 with just seconds to play in the first half.
Rio Linda got the ball to start the second half, but John Lopez ripped the ball from Corey’s grip and waltzed in for an apparent 35-yard score. However, an inadvertent whistle by the referees brought the ball back to the 25. It hardly mattered. Five plays later, Belo cashed in from 2 yards out to make it 41-7.
Ayala had another interception late in the third quarter and Jacob Sward had Hilmar’s third pick of the contest early in the fourth quarter.
Means hooked up with Tyrone Cooper for a 29-yard TD pass with 35 seconds to play against the Yellowjackets’ second unit, producing the final margin.
