‘We’re going to show them.’ After playoff snub, Atwater High determined to show they belong
The Atwater High football team thought they had built a playoff resume last season after finishing 6-4 and finishing third in the Central California Conference.
The Falcons only losses in CCC play came to perennial powers Merced and Patterson.
So it was a tough blow when the Falcons were excluded from the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
Seneca Ybarra II, whose father is head coach of the team took the playoff snub hard.
“I feel like I have more of a fire inside me,” said Ybarra as he preps for his senior season. “I feel like I got robbed of an opportunity, something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve been on this field as a long as I can remember and it’s always been something I wanted to do so I’m coming back this year with determination to make the playoffs.”
With a roster heavy with returning players, Atwater collectively enter this season with that proverbial chip on their shoulder, wanting to prove they should have been a playoff team last season and determined to not leave any doubt in the section playoff committee’s minds this season.
“We all thought we should have got one,” said senior quarterback James Bell. “It’s usually five wins and top three in your league. Us not getting in is maybe the reason we’re working so hard now.”
The Falcons definitely have the pieces in place, withone of the deepest rosters in Merced County with 68 players.
The Falcons return two talented quarterbacks in Bell and AJ Banks. When Banks isn’t sharing quarterback duties, he’ll be used as a weapon at receiver.
“I’m an athlete and I’ll get after it for my team,” Banks said.
Atwater has experience on the offensive line with seniors Jose Martinez, Aldo Madrigal and Roberto Dominguez.
Running back Jeremiah Dela Rosa and receivers Landon Perez, Ybarra II and Sylas Austin give the Falcons plenty of weapons.
“The sky is the limit for this group,” Falcons head coach Seneca Ybarra said. “We’ve got to prove it. We’ve shown that we can win games — which I’m not gonna lie, over the last couple years was kind of rough coming out of COVID. It took us a little longer than I’d like, but, I feel like we’ve kind of turned the corner.”
“I feel great about every game we’re involved in, physically and experience-wise,” Ybarra added. “It’s going to come down to can we execute?”
The Falcons hope to contend with Merced for the CCC championship this season. According to Ybarra II the fate of the team falls on the players.
“It’s got be player-led, it’s can’t be coach-led,” he said. “That was one of the problems we had a last year. This year I feel like we have more leaders on this team and I know there are guys who want to do the right thing.”
Atwater 2024 Schedule
Aug. 23 vs Pacheco
Aug. 30 at McNair
Sept. 6 at Gregori
Sept. 13 vs Hilmar
Sept. 20 at Pitman
Oct. 4 vs Buhach Colony
Oct. 11 at El Capitan
Oct. 18 at Golden Valley
Oct. 25 vs Merced
Nov. 1 vs Los Banos
