Mathias Valencia rushed for  155 yards and three touchdowns to help lead the Livingston High football team to a 34-20 victory over Central Valley on Friday night in Ceres. The Wolves (3-4 overall, 3-1 Western Athletic Conference) controlled the game with their running attack. “There might have been four pass attempts all game,” Livingston coach Steven Wine said.

 

Riberto Rivas added 52 yards on the ground and two touchdowns for the Wolves. Alex Zuniga came up with a big interception on defense. The Hawks cut the lead to 21-20 early in the second half, but the Wolves responded with two scoring drives and two defensive stops.

 

The Wolves head to Lathrop (6-1, 4-0 WAC) for a conference showdown next week.

 

Merced 37, Los Banos 21 – Cammarri Jackson ran for two touchdowns and the Bears used a methodical run game to defeat the Tigers and improve to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in the Central California Conference. “I’m really proud of our guys, the effort they put in,” said Merced coach Rob Scheidt. “It’s really the next man up mentality right now. I wouldn't bet against them, because they believe in each other and they believe in the things we're doing right now.”

 

Merced quarterback Vincente Cortez threw a 36-yard touchdown pass on a trick play to Chris Jackson to give the Bears a 14-6 lead in the first half. Cortez added a 23-yard touchdown run to give the Bears a 35-21 lead with 4:45 left to go in the fourth quarter after Los Banos had cut the lead to 28-21. Hayden Czirban added a late safety for the Bears to provide the final 37-21 margin.

 

The Bears travel to El Capitan next week.

 

Atwater 49, El Capitan 41 – Falcons quarterback A.J. Banks threw three touchdowns in the first half and Atwater held off a late charge by the Gauchos to improve to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the CCC. Banks connected on touchdown passes to Charlie Whitby, Durrell Morrison and Sylas Austin.

 

Morrison added a 25-yard touchdown run and Isaiah Alameda returned an interception for a touchdown. El Capitan running back Lorenzo Peters scored four touchdowns. The senior ran for three touchdowns and caught one from Gio Mendoza. Mendoza added a touchdown run and connected with Carles Polk for another touchdown pass. Atwater hosts Golden Valley next week.

 

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at sjansen@muhsd.org.