Hilmar, Los Banos ready for rematch as teams meet for the second time to open playoffs
The Hilmar and Los Banos high school football teams will face familiar foes when the two teams play on Friday in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs.
The two teams played in week two of the season with the Yellowjackets defeating the Tigers 23-6.
Not only that but they competed against each other during seven on seven during the summer.
“I’m not sure you can sneak up on a team when you play each other that much,” said Los Banos coach Dustin Caropreso. “But on the other hand, you at least have some sort of idea of what they might do against you on offense and defense. It should be a fun game.”
Caropreso and Hilmar coach Frank Marques are so comfortable with each other that they decided to exchange all their game video with each other.
Why waist time having to call other coaches to track down the video?
Marques says he doesn’t mind this rematch because so much time has passed since they played each other.
“The ones I don’t like are when you are playing a team back to back,” Marques said. “We’re two totally different teams.”
Both teams have made major changes since week two — and quarterback changes since the first game. Los Banos sophomore David Herrera was splitting time with Wyatt McBride early in the season.
Herrera has seized the quarterback job, giving the Tigers (5-4) a dual threat quarterback who has led Los Banos to four consecutive wins heading into the playoffs.
“Los Banos is a lot different,” Marques said. “They’ve settled on a quarterback. They also had some other positions they had to work out. They are running the ball well. I see a big difference in the team we played the first time.”
Hilmar (8-2) also made a quarterback change, implementing Jason Pimentel as the starting quarterback after the Yellowjackets’ bye week.
Pimentel gives Hilmar more of a running threat at quarterback and the Yellowjackets have closed out the season with three straight wins.
“Justin gives us a lot different running threat and teams have to account for that,” Marques said. “That’s a big part of our offense.”
The Yellowjackets will also have their top receiver Derek Taylor available for the rematch. Taylor missed the first game against Los Banos because he was battling COVID-19. Taylor leads Hilmar with 28 catches for 622 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Tigers may be without running back Adrian Ramirez, who was injured in the first quarter against Pacheco last week. Caropreso said Ramirez will be a game time decision.
Regardless both teams will be coming into the matchup with a lot of confidence.
“I think we finally got our offensive line situated and the kids started believing they were a good team,” Caropreso said. “Heck three of the losses we had a chance to tie at the end of the game and one we went for two for the win. So it just took the kids a little time to believe they were a good team.
“We have a tough task ahead of us this Friday,” Caropreso added, “but we will give them everything we’ve got.”
Friday’s Schedule
Delhi at Rosemont
Gustine at Liberty Ranch
Dos Palos at Kingsburg
Chowchilla at Caruthers
Saturday
Golden Valley vs Sacramento at Rosemont High, 1 p.m.
This story was originally published November 4, 2021 at 5:48 AM.
