Wildcats Outlast Yellowjackets

Written by: Zeb Drivdahl

Sonora defeated the Hilmar Yellowjackets 45-28 Friday night at Dunlavy Field in a hard-fought Trans Valley League tilt.

Both teams failed to score on their opening possession, with Hilmar’s first drive ending in a punt and Sonora a turnover on downs deep in Yellowjacket territory. The Wildcats scored on their next drive, however, sparked by a 55-yard run from Cash Byington and capped by a 12-yard Tommy Sutton touchdown. Hilmar answered immediately, scoring on a 40-yard screen pass that beat a Sonora blitz. The Wildcats went right back to work on offense, moving steadily down the field and finishing with a 5-yard Byington touchdown, his first of three on the night. The Yellowjackets answered again, scoring on a 65-yard deep ball set up by a fake screen pass. With time running out in the first half, Sonora put together a near-perfect 2-minute drill, which included a deep pass to Byington and a 5-yard touchdown pass to Brody Speer with three seconds left in the half.

The Wildcats started to pull away in the early 3rd quarter, with long scores by Byington and Eli Ingalls giving them a 21-point lead. The Yellowjackets weren’t done, however, ripping off an 80-yard touchdown run and then converting a Wildcat turnover into another touchdown, all in under 1:30 of game time. However, Sonora managed to slow the pace and put together two deliberately paced drives, resulting in another Byington touchdown and a 40-yard field goal from Emanuel Garibay. The Wildcat defense was able to keep Hilmar off the scoreboard for the rest of the game, wrapping up the 45-28 win.

Quarterback Eli Ingalls won Chicken Ranch Casino Player of the Game honors for his tough running and efficient passing in the third quarter to seal the game. Brody Speer took home Faust Heating and Air Hot Hit of the Game honors for a wicked hit that blew up an early Hilmar screen pass attempt. The Wildcats improve to 6-0 on the season and 3-0 in league play. Sonora hits the road next week for another TVL matchup against the undefeated Hughson Huskies.