‘This is a championship group.’ Dos Palos football wants another shot at section title
The Dos Palos High football team fell one win short of winning a Central Section championship last year.
The Broncos finished a very successful 11-2 season after a 69-14 loss to Torres in the championship game.
Despite the success, that championship loss has served as motivation for a group that returns most of the key players.
“It was tough,” said junior receiver Jesus Bon. “Nobody loses 69-14 and feels good.”
Memories of that loss have given the Broncos that extra push during offseason workouts or extra motivation to do an extra set in the weight room.
“We’re using it more as fuel, motivation to try to push, and finally get over that hump and bring a title back home,” said junior running back Andre Flores.
The Broncos feel they have the weapons to do it.
Flores is a third-year running back coming off a season in which he rushed for 1,424 yards and 21 touchdowns.
“I feel like my vision gets better better every year,” Flores said. “I feel like I’m able to, read the blocks better and quicker and that helps get those extra few yards every play.”
The Broncos return four starters on the offensive line, led by Esteban Hernández and feature a talented receiving group in Sixto Ibarra, Bon, Jacquez Jones and Billy Scott.
“I really believe we probably have one of the best receiving cores in the Valley,” said Dos Palos coach Rob Calvert.
“I think our receivers are very good,” Ibarra said. “I think we’re good in every category, speed, power, everything.”
One of the big losses was the graduation of Peyton Van Worth, who started at quarterback the last two years.
Junior Gavin Estrada and senior Earl Riley are competing for the starting job and Calvert says he may use both players at quarterback. Estrada is more of a read-option style quarterback and Riley is more of the pocket-passer.
Add other key returning players like sophomore defensive end/offensive lineman Justin Hurd, tight end/linebacker John Snapp and fullback/linebacker Dominic Esquivel and you can understand why there is excitement again in Dos Palos.
“We’re a lot stronger than last year,” Hernández said. “I like our chances.”
The challenge now for the Broncos is to go out and do it.
“I think this is a championship group, no doubt,” Calvert said. “We’ve got everything that we need to win a championship. I think we have a good shot of going deep into the playoffs, if not another section championship game again.”
Dos Palos 2024 Schedule
Aug. 23 vs Los Banos
Aug. 30 at Chowchilla
Sept. 6 at Liberty
Sept. 13 vs Shafter
Sept. 20 at Kerman
Oct. 4 at Avenal
Oct. 11 vs Mendota
Oct. 18 vs Tranquillity
Oct. 25 at Firebaugh
Nov. 1 at Coalinga
This story was originally published August 15, 2024 at 12:22 PM.
