Hilmar High started its varsity football season off hot as the Yellowjackets flew past Livingston High Friday night with a 38-12 victory at home.
Daniel Teixeira’s varsity debut as quarterback proved to be a breakout performance on the ground and in the air. The Yellowjacket quarterback threw for 163 yards and two touchdown passes while also rushing for 107 yards and two more touchdowns. In total, Teixeira accounted for 270 of Hilmar’s 462 yards.
“He’s got a lot of electric energy,” head coach Frank Marques said. “It was a great first game for him.”
The ‘Jackets opened with an eight-play drive that covered 58 yards and was capped with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Teixeira to Brandon Almeida.
Livingston’s offense struggled against Hilmar’s defense but managed to get on the scoreboard in the opening minutes of the second quarter when Eddie Avila notched a three-yard touchdown run to tie the score at six a piece.
Hilmar found the end zone again late in the second quarter with another touchdown pass from Teixeira, this one for 38 yards to Alex Chavez.
“It wasn’t a one-man game tonight; it was a team effort,” Teixeira said. “We had a bunch of guys that were making the right reads, doing great audibles and lots of guys were making big plays on the field.”
Hilmar extended its lead with the opening possession in the second half with an 11-play drive that saw Cody Rentfro score from two yards out. After a four and out from the Wolves’ offense, Teixera showcased his running ability with a 32-yard touchdown run to put his team up 26-6.
Livingston answered with its final scoring drive of the game as Adrian Garcia brought in a 24-yard touchdown pass. After the score, Hilmar’s defense took over allowing the occasional big play by preventing Livingston from capitalizing on their opportunities.
“The defense played really well, we had a couple slop plays but the defense overall did well today for as young as they are,” Marques said. “It was a gutty performance, [the team] just played hard throughout the game. We had some adversity and they played right through it—I’m really proud of their resilience, they played really well.”
Teixeira scored his second touchdown of the game from 13 yards out in the beginning of the fourth quarter before Rentro wowed the crowd with his 61-yard touchdown run to establish the final score as 38-12.
“It was very important that we started off with this win, especially with the season we had last year,” Teixeira said. “I think we showed the people who have been doubting us who we really are.”
Rentfro finished the game with 83 yards and two touchdowns, Chavez finished with 54 receiving yards and a touchdown and Alameida finished with 28 receiving yards and a touchdown.
“I was a little nervous at first, but definitely got the nerves out the first half,” Teixeira said. “We came back in the second half, fixed a few things, came out strong and did work.”
The ‘Jackets head to San Benito High next week to take on the Haybalers—last year’s Central Coast Conference champions.
“We’ll take the win,” Marques said. “Now we’ve got to focus on Hollister.”
