‘We still have work to do.’ Chowchilla High football closes in on 2nd consecutive title
Chowchilla High head coach Alex Pittz says having a weapon at quarterback like Davian Stephenson makes calling plays a little bit easier.
The senior showcased his play-making skills once again on a big stage in a matchup of two teams that came into Friday night with 6-1 records.
For the second consecutive week Stephenson scored five rushing touchdowns to help lead the Tribe to a dominant 54-20 victory over the Mustangs at Henry Massaro Stadium.
The victory puts the Tribe (7-1 overall, 4-0 Northwest Sequoia League) in the driver’s seat to win a second consecutive league championship with just two games left in the regular season.
A league championship is definitely on Chowchilla’s checklist of season goals this season.
“They want to repeat,” Pittz said. “They feel like they should win every game, and I like that confidence. They go to work every week like they have a job to do.”
The Tribe shined in all phases of the game.
The offense dominated as Stephenson (97 rushing yards), Dwayne Hemphill (83 rushing yards) and Travis Selby (152 rushing yards) combined for 332 yards on the ground.
Stephenson scored on touchdown runs of 15, 6, 19, 11 and 2 yards in the first half to help build a 40-6 lead at the half. Stephenson also connected with Rashaun Belaski on an 8-yard touchdown pass.
With his 10 touchdown runs in the last two weeks, Stephenson now has 16 touchdowns on the ground this season.
“He’s a special player and even when we don’t block things well he ends up making things happen,” Pittz said.
Selby added a 23-yard touchdown run and helped set up some of Stephenson’s touchdowns with long runs, including a 69-yard rush in the first quarter.
“When we’re clicking it just feels like we’re in control of the game,” Stephenson said.
The Tribe defense also dominated, forcing three turnovers including a 22-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Hemphill in the second half. When senior Alejandro Molina wasn’t being named Homecoming King at the half he was flying around from his middle linebacker position making tackles.
Belaski added a sack to go along with his touchdown catch and Tristan Beardsley came away with an interception.
Pittz says it’s a great group to coach. The seniors only won one game as freshmen and now they were closing in on a second straight league championship.
“It’s a special group of kids for sure,” Pittz said. “They’ve gone through everything from the beginning during their freshmen and sophomore years.”
The Tribe’s one loss this season was a 45-26 defeat to Stone Ridge Christian on Sept. 6. If you ask the players, they’ll tell you they learned they can’t look past any team with that defeat.
That’s why they don’t expect to take their foot off the gas in their final two games against Caruthers and Liberty.
“Nothing is over yet,” Stephenson said. “We still have work to do.”
