HUGHSON – Standing next to Hughson defender Michael Statzer on the sideline, one wonders what his parents must feed him.
Oats? Hay?
“Ripon,” replied Statzer, who looks like he was poured into his uniform.
The transfer from Waterford was playing his first game of 2026 after the mandatory sit-out period. He made his presence felt in a big way as the Huskies defeated Ripon 35-21 in a Trans-Valley League matchup Friday night.
“I’ve never had a feeling like this before,” said Statzer of playing his first game in Hughson. “It’s like when you first get a girlfriend and she kisses you on the lips and you’re like, ‘Wow, this is heaven; this is amazing.’”
Hughson, playing in its first TVL game of the season after a bye last week, improves to 4-1 overall and will travel to face Escalon (3-3, 1-1), which fell 36-32 to Hilmar on Friday.
Statzer wreaked havoc throughout the contest, then delivered a well-timed hit on Indians quarterback Andrew Shaw, sending the senior to the sideline for the final nine minutes of the contest. Backup Jacoby Salinas entered and directed Ripon to a score that made it 35-21 with just under four minutes to play.
The Huskies jumped out to a 14-0 first-half lead thanks to a pair of touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Hudson Baldwin – a 1-yarder to Blake Hobbs in the first quarter and a 20-yard dart to David Soria – a transfer from Turlock making his first start of 2026.
Hughson got the ball to start the second half, but after converting on fourth-and-three from its own 42, the Huskies punted three plays later and Ripon set up on the 24. After a short 3-yard gain on first down, Shaw hit Gavin Duran for a 73-yard score that halved the lead.
The Huskies stretched the margin back to 14 points on their next possession when Baldwin connected with Titus Beers for a 65-yard scoring strike.
Shaw fumbled on the Indians next possession and Noah Bradley scooped it up near the Huskies’ 40 and returned it 35 yards to the 24. On the next play, Hobbs broke free and ran into the end zone to make it 28-7.
Shaw made it 28-14 with his 72-yard scamper, but Hughson countered with a quick, three-play, 69-yard scoring drive that featured a 48-yard reception by Beers, and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Beers that made it 35-14.
Baldwin, a sophomore, completed 18 of 25 passes for 261 yards and four scores. He now has 1,210 yards passing for the season, with 13 touchdown passes, no interceptions, and a completion percentage of .726.
