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‘This is my home’
Legendary Hilmar coach ends career at D-5 semifinals
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Frank Marques gives one of his last interviews as head coach of the Hilmar High football team, following a 48-14 loss to Sutter in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 semifinal Friday night at McSweeney Field. Marques announced before the season that the 2025 campaign — the 23rd of his career — would be his last (JOE CORTEZ/The Journal).

HILMAR — Frank Marques stood on the Hilmar sideline, hands stuffed in his pockets, as the last few seconds in a 23-year coaching career ticked away.

The Yellowjackets’ coach watched stoically as Sutter quarterback Braden Scritchfield took a knee to wrap up a 48-14 victory in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 semifinal Friday night at McSweeney Field.

Here’s all you need to know about the game: The second-seeded Yellowjackets (7-5) trailed 35-0 at the intermission, then scored twice on Adam Branco runs in the second half to make the final score more palatable. It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t the way anybody imagined Marques’ storied career would end.

But that’s football. And nobody knows that better than Marques.

“I was thinking about it last week, and this week I had the same thought: this could be it,” said Marques, a native of the Azores and the son of a dairyman. “I’m just blessed to have had this opportunity. Not many people get a chance to do this.”

Marques was in high demand during the post-game milling about of fans in the north end zone, with players, fellow coaches, and parents waiting to take pictures with the coach, who finishes his career one win shy of 200 victories.

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Hilmar running back Adam Branco looks for running room during the Yellowjackets 48-14 loss to Sutter in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 semifinal at McSweeney Field. Branco carried the ball 15 times for 73 yards and scored on runs of 25 and 10 yards. (CANDY PADILLA/The Journal).

“This game is not going to determine what my career was,” said Marques.

And why should it? With 199 victories in 274 games (.726), eight league titles, four section banners, a NorCal championship, and a state crown, Marques built one of the most impressive resumes in the region’s history.

But the resume only tells part of the story. Listen to his players.

“It means a lot being with him for his last season,” said junior quarterback Cohen Felber. “It didn’t end how we wanted it to, but I’m very glad he was my coach. I was a transfer (from Orestimba) and he made me feel like I was part of his family. I’m proud that I was his quarterback for his last season.”

Two-way standout Jacob Sward echoed those sentiments.

“We wanted to send him out with a section championship and a state championship, and that didn't happen,” said Sward a receiver/safety. “But I’ll always remember the heart he had. It was never about him. It was always about the players. It was a privilege being part of his last team. There’s something special about Coach Marques. He’s the face of Hilmar football.”

Frank Marques Family
Hilmar High head coach Frank Marques poses with family and friends following the final game of his 23-year career on Friday night (CANDY PADILLA/The Journal).

The Yellowjackets were playing for a chance to reach the section final for the 11th time in Marques’ career. Instead, No. 3 Sutter advances to face top-seeded Casa Roble (11-1), which upset the Huskies (11-1) just two weeks ago in the Golden Empire League finale.

“I love this community and I can never repay this community for everything it’s done for me,” said Marques, who has two grandsons in the Hilmar football program and expects to be a fixture in the bleachers next season. “This is my home. It always has been and always will be.”